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AC Milan v Bologna – Wednesday 14 May 2025, 20:00 BST, Stadio Olimpico, Rome

After a half-century wait Bologna are back on the big stage, while Milan eye their first Coppa since 2003 and a Europa-League lifeline. An electric, sold-out Olimpico and a one-off shoot-out for silverware – what more could you ask for?

Routes to Rome

Round	AC Milan	Bologna
Last-16	6-1 v Sassuolo	2-0 v Monza
Quarter-final	3-1 v Roma	1-0 v Atalanta
Semi-final	4-1 agg v Inter	5-1 agg v Empoli

Milan’s path was the harder on paper and included a ruthless 3-0 derby rout to end Inter’s treble dream. Bologna, meanwhile, rediscovered their clinical edge against Empoli before wobbling in the league.

Form & tactical trends

Milan – five wins in six since Sergio Conceição switched to a 3-4-2-1; wing-backs Theo Hernández and Emerson Royal supply width while Pulisic and Leão attack half-spaces.
Bologna – Vincenzo Italiano presses high in a 4-2-3-1; Scottish dynamo Lewis Ferguson knits play, and Riccardo Orsolini drifts inside off the right for goals (15 in all comps).

Team news & probable XIs

Milan welcome back Youssouf Fofana (ankle) and Rafael Leão (suspension). Fikayo Tomori has shaken off a knock.
Bologna expect Thijs Dallinga up front; Dan Ndoye may edge Nicolo Cambiaghi on the left.

Milan (3-4-2-1) Maignan; Tomori, Gabbia, Pavlović; Emerson, Fofana, Reijnders, Hernández; Pulisic, Leão; Jović
Bologna (4-2-3-1) Skorupski; Calabria, Beukema, Lucumí, Miranda; Freuler, Ferguson; Orsolini, Odgaard, Domínguez; Dallinga

Key match-ups

Pulisic v Miranda – the American has 11 league goals and loves a cut-inside curler.
Ferguson v Fofana – box-to-box engine against Milan’s athletic shield; whoever dictates the middle may dictate the trophy.
Set-pieces – Bologna have scored four cup goals from dead-balls this season, while Milan conceded two headers in their last three games.

Head-to-head snapshot

Last five competitive meetings: Milan W3 D1 L1.
Bologna ended a 13-game league hoodoo with February’s 2-1 home win, but Milan hit back 3-1 at San Siro last Friday.

Odds & value plays (fractional in brackets; best UK prices via Oddschecker)

Market	Price	Implied %	Note
Match 90′: Milan	6/4 (2.50)	40	Favourite but far from runaway.
Draw	9/4 (3.25)	31	Three of the last seven finals went to extra-time.
Bologna	15/8 (2.88)	35	Overshadowed but dangerous on the break.
To lift the cup: Milan	4/5 (1.80)	56	Trophy experience counts.
Bologna	Evens (2.00)	50	History bid after 51-year wait.
Over 2.5 goals	6/5 (2.20)	45	Both attacks in good nick.

Prices can move rapidly on cup-final day. Always check live markets before placing a wager.

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Verdict

Milan’s rejuvenated press plus big-game nous gives them a marginal edge, but Bologna’s fearless front four make goals nearly certain. Expect a frantic first half, extra-time a distinct possibility, and maybe a late Christian Pulisic sting.

Watch live

UK: TNT Sports 1 / discovery+
Radio: BBC 5 Live Sports Extra
Kick-off: 20:00 BST, Wednesday 14 May

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