Jan Novak
Dailysports's expert
The Coppa Italia final will see Milan and Bologna clash for glory. The showdown is set for Rome on Wednesday, May 14, with kickoff scheduled for 21:00 Central European Time. I'm offering a prediction on the winner of this decisive fixture.
Match preview
The Coppa Italia final represents Milan's last chance to salvage an otherwise frustrating season. Whether a Europa League spot—earned with a win—matters to the Rossoneri is up for debate, but the club's prestige is clearly at stake.
Even if Milan triumph, it's unlikely Conceição will keep his job, with the media already swirling with names of potential new managers for next season. To be fair, the Portuguese coach has fallen short of expectations, so a likely end-of-season departure feels inevitable.
With two rounds left in the season, Milan sit eighth and could still be overtaken by Fiorentina. A Champions League place is out of reach, which is why the campaign is considered a disappointment at the club.
Yet, this team has repeatedly shown it can rise to big occasions and summon the right mentality. The semi-final battle with Inter is a case in point: after a goalless first leg, Milan demolished their rivals in the return. Now, the Rossoneri are hungry to add their first Coppa Italia in 22 years to the Supercoppa already in the trophy case.
Bologna haven't lifted a major trophy since the last century, making this showdown with Milan a golden chance to end a 51-year drought. That's exactly how the club views this match—a potential crowning achievement in what's already been a highly successful season.
Of the serious opponents on their road to the final, the Rossoblù only faced Atalanta back in the quarter-finals. In the previous round, they encountered little trouble against Empoli and cruised into the final.
Meanwhile, Italiano's men are still battling for a Champions League spot, eager to return to Europe after last season's remarkable run. Currently seventh in the league, they still have a shot at a top-four finish.
Bologna haven't won in their last three matches, a slump that has dented their hopes of a triumphant finish. The standout performer has been Riccardo Orsolini, the 28-year-old Italian enjoying the best season of his career with 15 goals across all competitions.
Match facts
- Milan have won four matches in a row.
- The Rossoneri have scored at least two goals in each of those games.
- Bologna are winless in their last three outings.
- This is their first such streak in four months.
- Milan average 1.55 goals per game, while Bologna average 1.5 goals per game.
Probable lineups
- Milan: Maignan, Pavlovic, Gabbia, Thiaw, Hernandez, A. Jimenez, Reijnders, Musah, Pulisic, Leão, S. Jimenez.
- Bologna: Skorupski, De Silvestri, Beukema, Lucumí, Lykogiannis, Moro, Freuler, Aebischer, Pobega, Orsolini, Dallinga.
H2H
- This Serie A season, both teams won their home fixtures against each other.
- Milan haven't beaten Bologna twice in a row since 2021.
Prediction
This is the most important match of the season for both sides. Bologna have a shot at their first trophy in half a century, while Milan are desperate to end the season on a high with a Coppa Italia win—their first since 2003. Bookmakers give a slight edge to Conceição's men, and I tend to agree. Experience in big matches could be the decisive factor here, so I'm backing the Rossoneri to win with a 0 handicap.
