AC Milan vs. Bologna: Winners and Losers from Serie A

AC Milan started 2016 with a highly frustrating, tear-your-hair-out 1-0 loss to Bologna on Wednesday at San Siro. The game was settled late on by an opportunistic Emanuele Giaccherini strike.

The Rossoneri dominated proceedings for long stretches in both halves but could not find a way past goalkeeper Antonio Mirante. Then, toward the end of the second period, Giaccherini stole in at the far post and forced a strike past Gianluigi Donnarumma.

Here B/R picks its winners and losers from the game.

Winner: Antonio Mirante, Bologna

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There are times in football when goalkeepers seem to adopt a you-shall-not-pass approach to life. Occasionally, they simply find their groove and stop everything fired their way.

Bologna goalkeeper Antonio Mirante did his very best impression of Gandalf the Grey on Wednesday at San Siro, saving shot after shot as Milan sought an opener in the first half. His palmed stops from Giacomo Bonaventura and M’Baye Niang efforts were particularly praiseworthy.

He continued in the same vein in the second period, and although things got a little dicey late on as Milan cranked up the pressure, he emerged with a well-earned clean sheet.

Loser: Riccardo Montolivo, Milan

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Milan fans have become accustomed to seeing Riccardo Montolivo play poorly, and Wednesday afternoon proved no exception. The Italian midfielder, once so key to strong Fiorentina and Italy sides, has not been the acquisition the Rossoneri hoped he would be when he joined in 2012.

Everything positive from a Milan standpoint came from Giacomo Bonaventura, M’Baye Niang and, to a smaller extent, Carlos Bacca. The rest of the side struggled in several areas, with Montolivo made to look immobile and pedestrian in central midfield.

Bologna’s energetic trio swamped him and prevented him from dictating, and he was unable to conjure anything from a creative standpoint. It was no surprise to see him withdrawn late on as Milan sought an equaliser.

Winner: M’Baye Niang, Milan

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It’s possible to find holes in many of the Milan players’ performances, but one shining light was M’Baye Niang. Where hesitancy and tentativeness are remarkably easy to see in most Rossoneri players’ games, this Frenchman provides fearlessness and confidence on the ball, running at players and trying his utmost to make things happen.

He embarked on several mazy dribbles and breached the penalty box several times, set up Giacomo Bonaventura for a great chance in the first half and played a stunning ball for Alessio Cerci to run in one-on-one in the second.

That said, there are things for him to work on too. WhoScored.com’s Cristiano Acconci tweeted: “Niang has good potential but his finishing at times looks like division four football.” While that’s quite harsh—his finishing isn’t that bad—it’s definitely an area for him to work on.

Loser: Ignazio Abate, Milan

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Ignazio Abate had a rough day at San Siro on Wednesday, consistently fouling Bologna’s tricky left-siders and completely losing his marker for the only goal of the game.

Half a decade ago, Italians were excited over the potential Abate was showing as a flying, speedy full-back, but a steady decline in performance levels means showings such as this—very little he did can be considered good—aren’t too much of a surprise.

He was booked in the 75th minute for what felt like his 10th foul of the afternoon, and seven minutes later he left Emanuele Giaccherini unattended at the back post, allowing him to control a cross and force a finish under Gianluigi Donnarumma.

Winner: Emanuele Giaccherini, Bologna

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This final winner’s spot was originally intended for Amadou Diawara, who put in a wonderful shift in central midfield for 78 minutes and had a big hand in the result.

But Emanuele Giaccherini was, quite literally, the match-winner, and his performance throughout merits a spot. His goal to make it 1-0 wasn’t pretty, but he did enough to force it under the goalkeeper, and that’s all that counts.

Prior to that, he’d spent his afternoon terrorising Milan’s right side, troubling Ignazio Abate and linking very well with Mattia Destro and Anthony Mounier up top. He did blaze one chance wildly over when Destro was on for a square ball, but it didn’t end up costing his side.

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