A first league defeat, and a tired team
Milan’s unbeaten start to the Serie A season ended on Wednesday at San Siro. Bologna won 4-2, according to [1], which also records it as Milan’s third loss in 12 games across all competitions. Alphadjo Cisse scored twice before half-time, but Bologna scored three times after the break in what was described as a poor second half.
Ruben Amorim did not hide behind the squad problems. He said Milan looked tired and lacked energy from the first minute, and that he did not yet know how many players he would have for the derby, as [2] reported. Milan started the game without eight players in total.
The line-up gave a clear picture of the depleted squad: Maignan; Tomori, De Winter, Pavlovic, Estupiñán; Musah, Jashari; Hutchinson, Cisse, Bartesaghi; Ramos. Several of those names would not normally be expected to carry a derby side, which makes the physical drop-off easier to understand.
The injury list before Saturday
The defensive picture is the most worrying. Fikayo Tomori was replaced by Luka Modrić at half-time with a suspected thigh injury, and Amorim said it would be assessed the next day. [3] lists his status as doubtful.
The same report, citing Gazzetta, says Mario Gila and Diego Moreira are hoped to recover in time for the derby. Adrien Rabiot, who is recovering from a calf injury, is considered unlikely to return. Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Samuel Chukwueze and Matteo Gabbia are expected to miss the match, and the report adds Alexis Saelemaekers to that group. Loftus-Cheek has a medial hamstring tear, and Chukwueze has a hip problem, according to [4].
Amorim said one or two of the unavailable players might return and that Milan could take a risk with them. That is only a rumour, and the confidence behind it is low. Until the medical checks are done, the realistic assumption is another makeshift selection, especially at centre-back, where Tomori and Gabbia are both in question.
Attack still productive, but Ramos is quiet
The defeat should not obscure what has worked. Milan have scored 18 goals in nine league games, the fourth-best attack in Serie A behind Inter (25), Roma (23) and Lazio (22), per [5].
The worry is the striker. Gonçalo Ramos, the club’s most expensive signing at a reported €80m from Paris Saint-Germain, had no shots, no assists and no chances created from 31 touches against Bologna. Cisse’s two goals showed that the scoring burden can be shared, but a centre-forward who is not involved leaves less margin when the wide players are also missing.
There is off-pitch noise too. Milan reportedly have an agreement with Christian Pulisic on a new deal until 2031 and have started talks over a longer contract for Rabiot, whose current one runs to 2028, though both reports are unconfirmed. In Europe, Milan have lost two of their first three Europa League matches under Amorim, most recently 3-0 to Bournemouth.
What it means
Milan are fifth in Serie A with 18 points from nine games: five wins, three draws and one defeat, with 18 goals scored and 11 conceded. That is a goal difference of plus seven and a respectable base, but the defeat to Bologna gave up ground that a team chasing the top four can ill afford to lose.
The form line is mixed. Before Bologna, Milan beat Udinese 2-0 away and Atalanta 3-2 at home, and drew 1-1 at Sassuolo. Before that came a 3-0 home win over Lecce. Four of the last five league games have brought points, but the two they conceded most in, against Atalanta and Bologna, show a defence that can be stretched.
The next fixture is the derby at home to Inter on 31 October. Inter lead the league in goals with 25, so a rotated back line with a doubtful Tomori faces the strongest attack in the division. The site’s forecast for the match locks 24 hours before kick-off, so it will reflect the final injury news. The question for Amorim is whether a tired squad can recover its energy in three days, and whether the fitness calls on Tomori, Gila and Moreira go his way.
Sources
- Football Italia: Tomori injury adds to Milan’s concerns ahead of derby vs. Inter football-italia.net ↩
- Football Italia: Amorim: ‘Milan were tired from minute 1, I’m not here to defend myself’ football-italia.net ↩
- Football Italia: Milan hope two players will return from injury for derby football-italia.net ↩
- Football Italia: Serie A official line-ups: Milan vs. Bologna football-italia.net ↩
- Football Italia: Gonçalo Ramos’ Milan struggles continue in 4-2 loss vs. Bologna football-italia.net ↩
