AC Milan failed to extend their winning streak in Serie A last night, claiming just one point against Bologna at San Siro. While there are a few good stats to highlight from the clash, most of them are negative.
It was a tough evening for Stefano Pioli and his men, failing to claim all three points despite coming back from 0-1 behind. Besides Ruben Loftus-Cheek’s success, which is indeed worth highlighting, most of the key stats are negative for the Rossoneri. So let’s take a look.
An overall look
Because of the two penalties, Milan obviously had a very high XG in this clash at 3.12 compared to Bologna’s 1.88. All of the other important metrics, however, were rather even and certainly reflected the nature of the game.
The Rossoneri did well to come back from 0-1 behind to 2-1 ahead, but it’s clear that the missed penalties had a huge impact on the game. The question now is how much that will affect the team’s confidence, with Frosinone up next.
📊 The stats from the draw against Bologna pic.twitter.com/ryTERGLYPV
— MilanData📊 (@acmilandata) January 27, 2024
Penalty disaster
One can forgive a team for a missing penalty, but missing two in the same game is nothing short of a disaster. Milan were the first team to achieve this in Serie A since Carpi back in 2016, as highlighted by Opta, and there will surely be some penalty drills at Milanello next week.
Olivier Giroud is normally very confident from the spot, the same goes for Theo Hernandez, and this made the misses even more bizarre. Albeit not an excuse, it should be added that the Bologna goalkeeper Lukasz Skorupski always has been good at penalties.
For the first time since 2004-05, #ACMilan have failed to score both the penalties taken in a single match in Serie A. The last team to do so was Carpi back in 2016.
[via @OptaPaolo] pic.twitter.com/w0huKgpPkO
— MilanData📊 (@acmilandata) January 27, 2024
Loftus-Cheek’s 2024 success
The midfielder has had a flying start to the year with four goals in as many league games, named the MOTM in our player’s ratings for yesterday’s performance. He’s the midfielder with the most goals in Europe’s top five leagues this year, along with Empoli midfielder Zurkowski.
It goes without saying that Loftus-Cheek seemingly has found the perfect role at Milan, playing closer to the striker and the penalty box. Yesterday, he showcased great awareness by making his way into the box in the right moments, exploiting gaps in Bologna’s defence.
Ruben Loftus-Cheek is the midfielder who has found the net in the most matches (3) in 2024 in the top 5 European leagues. He is also the midfielder with the most goals in 2024 (4), along with Empoli's Zurkowski.
[via @OptaPaolo] pic.twitter.com/VUdFxp0Zo0
— MilanData📊 (@acmilandata) January 28, 2024
Winning run comes to an end
Milan’s winning streak in the league came to an end with the 2-2 draw, stopping at four games. The Rossoneri are still seven games unbeaten, though, and it will be important to bounce back immediately against Frosinone next weekend.
Bologna are certainly no pushovers, also drawing Inter 2-2 at San Siro, but Milan did indeed lose two points after failing to take their chances. Pioli will have to work with the players next week to make sure they are at their best mentally.
The details
AC Milan (4-2-3-1): Maignan; Calabria (59′ Florenzi), Kjær, Gabbia, Hernández; Adli (59′ Musah), Reijnders; Pulisic (87′ Terracciano), Loftus-Cheek, Leão (87′ Okafor); Giroud (60′ Jović). Subs: Mirante, Sportiello; Jiménez, Pellegrino, Simić; Zeroli; Traore. Coach: Pioli.
Bologna (4-3-3): Skorupski; De Silvestri (82′ Lucumí), Beukema, Calafiori, Kristiansen; Ferguson, Freuler, Aebischer (65′ Moro); Fabbian (82′ Orsolini), Zirkzee, Urbański (65′ Saelemaekers). Subs: Bagnolini, Ravaglia; Corazza, Ilić, Lykogiannis; Karlsson. Coach: Motta.
Referee: Massa from Imperia.
Goals: 29′ Zirkzee (B), 45′ and 83′ Loftus-Cheek (M), 90’+1 pen. Orsolini (B).
Booked: 2′ Calafiori (B), 22′ Leão (M), 36′ Calabria (M), 39′ Ferguson (B), 44′ Adli (M), 45’+2 Loftus-Cheek (M), 57′ Urbański (B), 90’+1 Terracciano (M).
Sent off: 41′ Motta (B).
Notes: 41′ Skorupski (B) saves Giroud’s (M) penalty, 75′ penalty missed by Hernández (M).
The only positive I can take out of last night’s game is Zirkzee passing his audition. Easily one of the most frustrating matches I’ve seen since May 2005.
I’m not worried about the draw here. You could tell it was just another one of those nights that the ball didn’t really want to go in.
Normally we put both those PK’s away. Also Reijnders came close with that beautiful shot against the bar. Games like this will happen. (Newcastle and BvB games come to mind).
We’re OK. We move on. Zee is pretty stellar compared to what we’re having to use up front. Shows you what’s possible out of a 9.
But the real question is, who will be the next coach and will he play with a 9 or use two forwards up front? (Also, when PSG comes calling will we resist selling Leao?)
For ONCE, i cannot blame Pioli for this result. We didnt play terribly well ( i do blame our tactics for that) but missing those 2 PKs and giving up that stupid one at the end isnt his fault.
I would never let left legged player to take a pen,they are just sooo predictable, even messi failed too many penalties ,pulisic looks like some crazy motherfuc*er who is confidence enough to take it easy and he would be my first choise for sure 🫵