AC Milan hosted newly promoted Bologna at the San Siro on Wednesday afternoon, with the home team looking to continue a spell of six competitive matches without defeat.

The Rossoneri sat in 6th place before the game with 28 points from 17 games, on the cusp of European football after recovering somewhat from a shaky start to the season.

Bologna had recorded two wins in their last three matches including crucial wins over title challengers Napoli and fellow strugglers Genoa, allowing them to clamber up to 15th in the table away from the drop zone.

New signing for Milan Kevin-Prince Boateng was not avaiable for selection due to flu, and the game began like the other 22 players were suffering from it too with very little in the way of chances or meaningful possession.

There was a controversial incident to liven things up in the 12th minute as Anthony Mounier went down under the challenge of Alex just inside the area. Milan hearts must have been in their mouths as the referee went for his whistle, but he booked the forward for simulation.

Another moment of panic came for the Devils as Mounier directed a ball behind the Milan back line that Gianluigi Donnarumma rushed out to clear, but he didn't make solid contact with Destro and Giaccherini looming. The ball was eventually cleared.

Turning the screw

The home side put in a typically nervous performance early in the game, limiting their attack to crosses from the flanks that were of little quality. Meanwhile, the visitors seemed more than happy to press the midfield and play the ball through the centre, and it was proving far more effective.

Milan did finally get some sort of a breakthrough when Carlos Bacca turned and played a pass through to a wide open Honda, who should have shot first time but instead allowed a successful block to come in. The follow up effort from M'Baye Niang was saved by Mirante for a corner.

Giacomo Bonaventura found space to run down the lefft in the 29th minute, and had a cross blocked for a corner, but referee Massa pulled the play back for a drop ball that confused the entire stadium.

Red-and-black shirts began flooding forward, and as Niang had a cross towards Bacca well cut out, the support began to fully get behind the team.

Bacca, the Colombian international, flashed a header from an Ignazio Abate cross into the side netting with 8 minutes left in the first half.

Riccardo Montolivo hit a well-timed volley from 25 yards through a crowd of bodies, but it was too central to the goal and provided Mirante with an easy save.

The Bologna 'keeper was called into serious action in the 40th minute as a running shot from Honda was cut out by Niang before trickling to Bonaventura, who unleashed a zinging effort that required a fingertip save to keep the game level.

Domenico Maietta was forced off just before the break, replace by Marios Oikonomou.

Carlos Bacca missed a golden opportunity to make it 1-0 as Honda curved a perfect ball in behind, but Antonio Mirante saved again to make sure parity was maintained heading into the break.

At half time the game stood at 0-0. Mihajlovic will have been happy at the response of his side after a slow start, while Roberto Donadoni's side had sat too deep in the closing stages of the half allowing the home team to seize the game somewhat.

Honda forced Mirante into a near post save early in the second half as he drove down the right, while a ball flashed across the Milan goal at the other end with Giaccherini inches from making contact to stab home at the far post.

M'Baye Niang had a big chance to make it 1-0 in the 55th minute as he ran towards the edge of the box. Caught in two minds whether to shoot or pass right, he ignored a wide open Bonaventura on the left, instead shooting wide.

A minute later the Frenchman slipped as he attempted to convert a rebound with most of the goal to aim at, perhaps indicating it wasn't his day.

With the game somehow goalless, Mihajlovic brought on Alessio Cerci for Honda in an attempt to force the issue.

A spell of pressure followed, with a Bonaventura free-kick tipped behind for a corner.

As Milan seemed intent to play from the back, they almost got caught out with 19 minutes left as Giaccherini seized a loose pass just outside the box, however he shot wildly over.

Alessio Cerci led a three-on-two break for Milan but, as expected, they found a way to not score as he left it too late to pass to an overlapping Bacca and the danger was snuffed.

Cerci somehow then found a way not to score on a two-on-one break after a Niang pass put him through on goal. With Bacca to his left, he opted to round the 'keeper and left himself too narrow an angle, and the danger was again cleared. 

M'Baye Niang, unlucky not to have an assist to his name, was then substituted for Luiz Adriano as a last roll of the dice with ten minutes left for Mihajlovic.

Mattia Destro found space in the area a minute later but could only stab a weak effort straight at Donnarumma as it appeared it wasn't either team's day.

Bologna go ahead with composed finish

However, it was not to finish 0-0, as Emanuele Giaccherini provided the moment of composure needed to give Bologna a lead.

Alex Ferrari crossed deep to the left side of the box where the influential Giaccherini took the ball down and slotted home despite Donnarumma nearly saving, making it 1-0 to the visitors and invoking many jeers from the home support.

Mattia Destro had a chance to seal the game with a minute left on the clock but the young AC 'keeper got down well to save his effort.

The game ended 0-1 much to the disgust of the Curva Sud who jeered the team off the field. Worrying times at Milan, in a time where investment is needed but not neccesarily guaranteed, and European football becoming further from reach.

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