AC Milan's Champions League Hopes Dented with Bologna Defeat

MILAN, Italy, 28th February 2025 (BSS/AFP) - AC Milan's slim hopes of qualifying for next season's Champions League suffered another blow on Thursday as they were defeated 2-1 by Bologna, leaving them eight points adrift of Serie A's top four.

Sergio Conceicao's side, currently in eighth place, find themselves a long way behind fourth-placed Juventus after an entertaining match at the Stadio Renato Dall'Ara. This fixture, originally scheduled for October, was rescheduled following torrential rain and flooding in northern Italy.

The Emilia-Romagna region, renowned for its fertile agricultural land, had been severely impacted by the autumn downpour, which left much of the area submerged in water.

Bologna’s decisive moment came in the 82nd minute, when Dan Ndoye slotted home the winning goal. His strike lifted Bologna into sixth place, one position above Milan, with 44 points—five behind Juventus—after they claimed victory in their postponed match.

"We still believe (in qualification), there are many games to play, and other teams can drop points. We just have to focus on winning matches," said Milan’s goalscorer, Rafael Leao.

The Swiss attacker Ndoye, who scored shortly after Nicolo Casale’s header hit the post, completed the turnaround for Bologna after Leao had given Milan the lead just before half-time.

Milan struggled after the break, and Bologna drew level in the 48th minute when Santiago Castro bundled home a knockdown from Giovanni Fabbian. Milan protested that the goal had been preceded by a handball.

The visitors never recovered, and were caught off guard at a throw-in for Ndoye’s winner, which followed a clever spin by Nicolo Cambiaghi to beat Alex Jimenez before delivering a precise low cross.

Milan, seven-time European champions, will host Lazio on Sunday night in what may be their last opportunity to keep their Champions League hopes alive.

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AC Milan's defeat comes at a crucial point in the season, with their Champions League qualification hopes growing slimmer. The top four teams in Serie A qualify for the prestigious tournament, and Milan will need to string together a series of wins to secure their place in Europe's elite competition. Meanwhile, Bologna’s victory is a significant boost as they aim to climb further up the table and challenge for a European spot themselves. As Milan face a tough run-in, every point will count in their bid to remain competitive for a Champions League berth next season.