AFP
Leaders AC Milan look for a boost on Saturday at 13th-placed Bologna after a dramatic Italian Cup exit to city rivals Inter days after a league defeat to Atalanta.
Stefano Pioli’s side are just two points ahead of second-placed Inter who host 11th-placed Benevento.
Inter bounced back from last weekend’s goalless draw at Udinese to advance to the Italian Cup semi-finals where they meet Juventus.
The Milan teams’ Cup clash was overshadowed by insults traded between their star strikers Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Romelu Lukaku with the Swede later sent off. Tensions are high as both Milan teams attempt to deny Juventus a 10th consecutive league title.
“We’ve lost one of our objectives,” said Pioli after the Cup defeat.
“But we have two others which are probably even more important to achieve,” he added of Serie A and the Europa League. Bologna have won just one of their last 10 league games, and have not beaten Milan since January 2016.
Milan are hopeful of recalling midfielder Hakan Calhanoglu who has been out with coronavirus along with injured Ismael Bennacer and Mario Mandzukic who took a knock on his debut against Atalanta.