Ten years later, Bologna beat Milan at San Siro, making them cry for the first time in this league campaign. The great protagonist was Samuel Mbangula, who scored three goals. And to think that until yesterday he had played only a handful of minutes since his arrival at Casteldebole. Milan had done well in the first half to overturn the Rossoblù's lead with two goals from Cisse, but in the second half Amorim and his men paid the price for their absences and commitments linked to Europe, although it is fair to point out that Bologna produced a second half worthy of the Arabian Nights, fully justifying the 4-2 scoreline and building on last Saturday's victory in Cagliari.
Two great plays worth their weight in gold from Bologna, both created by the unstoppable Zortea on the right side. On the first ball played into the middle, Odgaard failed to reach it by the smallest of margins; on the second, Mbangula beat Maignan. Then what happened? What Bologna have done in other past matches, when, in total control, they thought it wise to complicate their own lives. This time the person responsible was Theate, who, completely alone, hesitated on the ball, allowed himself to be caught from behind, with the ball then deflected and ending up in the penalty area at Cisse's feet, for whom beating Skorupski was child's play. Was that the end of it? Not at all, because a few minutes later Theate found himself in difficulty again, the ball landed once more in the middle of the penalty area and once again at Cisse's feet, who hit the jackpot for the second time. A necessary point must be made here: that Amorim's team have become more intense and aggressive is certain, but Bologna's players certainly contributed a great deal themselves, especially to the 1-1 goal.
At 2-1, Bologna did not feel sorry for themselves, that much is true.
They at least showed signs of putting together something of a reaction, but they did not create any real dangers for Milan, who began operating behind the line of the ball and creating density while waiting for the right opening to present itself, either on the flanks or through the central channel with Cisse, who once again showed that he is a great marksman inside the penalty area. The second half began with Milan without Tomori and with Modric, and, just as had happened in the first half, once they had taken the lead, they allowed Bologna to dictate the play, with Bologna gaining more and more ground. Bernardeschi caused more than one headache for the Rossoneri defence, never giving them any reference points.
Mbangula's hat-trick
But be careful, despite this, with an eye on the future, Palladino took him off, bringing on Cambiaghi and Miranda. And within the space of a minute, Bologna overturned the 1-2 scoreline, first grabbing the equaliser through a Bartesaghi own goal and then taking the lead again with a great goal from Mbangula. At this point, Amorim also threw on Camarda in place of Bartesaghi. As you can imagine, the momentum of the match changed, with Milan throwing themselves forward angrily (but with little clarity) and Bologna always ready to counterattack. Cambiaghi narrowly missed the post to Maignan's left, then Camarda came within a whisker of making it 3-3 with a header. But the best was yet to come, because Mbangula scored his third goal, assisted by Odgaard. Skorupski deserved applause for his save against Pulisic, then, with the fourth goal, Bologna's celebrations began, concludes Il Corriere dello Sport their article in this morning's print edition.
