Bologna stuns slumping AC Milan
Bologna inflicted a second consecutive Serie A defeat on AC Milan, 2-1, in a setback to the Rossoneri's hopes of a top six Serie A finish.
Milan is eighth in the standings with 41 points, eight behind Juventus in fourth with 12 games remaining.
Bologna had to do it the hard way, coming from behind after Rafael Leao's goal two minutes before half-time in a contest that was rescheduled after it was called off in October due to flooding.
Milan was pegged back three minutes into the second half when a free-kick into the box was flicked on by Giovanni Fabbian was headed home by Santiago Castro.
The Rossoneri protested, appealing for handball, but the VAR confirmed the goal.
Yunus Musah nearly restored Milan's lead just after the hour mark, but Lukasz Skorupski made a crucial save.
Nicolo Casale headed against the post and Nicolo Cambiaghi sent the rebound over the bar, but the latter atoned for his miss eight minutes from time.
Cambiaghi sent in a cross from the byline, with Dan Ndoye on hand to turn home at full stretch, sealing Bologna's first Serie A win over Milan since 2016, and their first at home since 2002.
Milan boss Sergio Conceicao vowed to keep working with the same passion after admitting the pressure on him is growing.
"It's all in our hands. If and when the club feels I'm no longer the right person for Milan, I will step aside, but until that moment, I will continue working with the same passion as always," Conceicao said.
"I feel very frustrated because the results are not coming. But I think it's normal for a coach who works with passion.
"It seems like there is a cloud over Milan that we need to get out of with results because those are what make the difference."
It is the first time that Milan has suffered back-to-back defeats in Serie A since January 2023 – a run of three – while it is winless in three in all competitions, leading to questions being asked of Conceicao.
The 50-year-old believes recent media criticism of him is unjustified.
"I realise that every day people talk about my situation here and my future, acting as if I was just dropped in here, but I faced five very big Italian clubs," Conceicao said.
"I faced coaches like [Maurizio] Sarri and [Stefano] Pioli in charge of teams that were theoretically weaker, but I always qualified against them other than with Inter [Milan].
"I see people talk about my situation, so let them just tell me to go if they want. I don't want one more Euro, so let me reassure them. I did not just come here out of nothing. I won 13 trophies, I had 100 Champions League games.
"Still, people talk about it and say mean things. I have family and neighbours who see what is happening. It's not fair.
“I am sorry for having let loose a bit there. I prefer to talk about football.”
Milan hosts Lazio next in Serie A.
