A first league defeat, and a heavy one
Milan’s unbeaten Serie A start ended at San Siro. They lost 4-2 to Bologna, [1] reports, after Alphadjo Cisse scored twice before half-time and Bologna then scored three times after the break. It was Milan’s first league defeat of the season and, per [2], their third loss in 12 games across all competitions.
Ruben Amorim did not hide from it. 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. The official line-up had Maignan in goal, a back four of Tomori, De Winter, Pavlovic and Estupiñán, Musah and Jashari in midfield, and Gonçalo Ramos leading a front line of Hutchinson, Cisse and Bartesaghi.
The European picture is no more comfortable. [3] notes that Milan have lost two of their first three Europa League matches under Amorim, most recently 3-0 to AFC Bournemouth. Former midfielder Roberto Donadoni argues the coach needs time but that the team must show more consistency. That is opinion, but the results sit alongside it.
The injury list ahead of Saturday
The bigger worry is availability. Milan were without eight players against Bologna, and [4] describes an injury crisis going into the derby, with up to eight missing. The names confirmed so far are Ruben Loftus-Cheek, who has a medial hamstring tear in his left thigh, Samuel Chukwueze with a hip problem, Adrien Rabiot, Diego Moreira and Mario Gila.
Then came a new blow. [2] says Fikayo Tomori went off at half-time with a suspected thigh injury, with Luka Modrić reported as his replacement. Amorim said the problem would be assessed the following day, so his status is doubtful rather than settled.
There is a glimmer of hope, though a thin one. Amorim suggested one or two of the unavailable players might recover for the derby and that Milan could take a risk with them. That is a rumour-level signal, and it is unclear whether Rabiot, Gila, Chukwueze or Moreira are the ones he meant. For a defence that conceded four, losing Tomori on top of Gila would be a real problem.
Contracts and a record signing
Off the pitch, the news is more settled. Reports from Sky and Gazzetta, relayed by [5], say Christian Pulisic has agreed an extension to June 2031, with an announcement expected soon. Nothing is official yet. The same outlet adds that Milan have reportedly begun talks to extend Rabiot, whose deal runs to summer 2028, though that is also unconfirmed.
Gonçalo Ramos, meanwhile, is the face of the summer spending. [6] reports he joined from Paris Saint-Germain for about €80m, the club’s most expensive signing. He says he wanted to leave PSG and is happy at Milan, where he feels he has more room to play. He led the line against Bologna but could not stop the slide.
None of this changes the selection problem on Saturday, but it shows the club is trying to lock down its core while the squad is stretched.
What it means
Milan are fifth in Serie A with 18 points from nine matches (five wins, three draws, one defeat), with 18 goals scored and 11 conceded. Before the Bologna game, [4] had Inter leading with 22 points, four clear of Milan, so the derby is a chance to cut that gap.
The form is mixed rather than collapsing. Before Bologna, Milan beat Udinese 2-0 away and Atalanta 3-2 at home, drew 1-1 at Sassuolo, and beat Lecce 3-0 in September. Those results show a side that scores, but the 11 goals conceded, four of them on Wednesday, show where the pressure is.
The next fixture asks the question directly: Milan v Inter at San Siro on Saturday, 31 October. History favours Milan, who have won the last three derbies and are unbeaten in their last seven in all competitions. The squad is the problem, with tired legs, a long injury list and Tomori in doubt. The site’s forecast for the match locks 24 hours before kick-off, so no pick is published here yet. Team news on Rabiot, Gila and Tomori is likely to decide how much that derby record is worth.
Sources
- Football Italia: Amorim: ‘Milan were tired from minute 1, I’m not here to defend myself’ football-italia.net ↩
- Football Italia: Tomori injury adds to Milan’s concerns ahead of derby vs. Inter football-italia.net ↩
- Football Italia: Donadoni: ‘Amorim needs time, hope Milan have fewer ups and downs’ football-italia.net ↩
- BBC Sport: Milan derby to be shown live on BBC Two bbc.co.uk ↩
- Football Italia: Pulisic ready to sign Milan contract extension as new salary revealed football-italia.net ↩
- Football Italia: Goncalo Ramos: ‘I wanted to leave PSG in January, now happy at Milan’ football-italia.net ↩
