AC Milan strengthened their Champions League hopes with a decisive 3-0 win over Bologna at the Stadio Renato Dall’Ara on Saturday. Rafael Leão scored a brace, while substitute Samuel Chukwueze added a late goal as Milan dominated the match. Bologna, playing for a European spot, were surprisingly subdued and struggled to create clear chances against Milan’s solid defense.

The game started cautiously, but Milan gradually took control. Christian Pulisic was a constant threat on the right wing, and Leão opened the scoring in the 33rd minute with a powerful shot that left Bologna goalkeeper Łukasz Skorupski no chance. Leão doubled Milan’s lead just after halftime, capitalizing on a defensive error and beating Skorupski again with a well-timed finish.

Bologna tried to respond, with Riccardo Orsolini and Joshua Zirkzee attempting to spark an attack, but Milan’s central defenders Fikayo Tomori and Matteo Gabbia were resolute. Stefano Pioli’s tactical adjustments, which focused on stifling Bologna’s creative midfielders, paid off.

As Bologna pushed for a goal, Milan exploited the space on the counter-attack, and Chukwueze sealed the win with a composed finish in the 88th minute. The victory moved Milan into third place in the Serie A standings, ahead of Juventus, and puts pressure on their rivals in the Champions League qualification race.

Bologna remain in the European qualification picture despite the defeat but will need to regroup quickly. The win highlights Milan’s improved form, with Leão leading the charge, and underscores the importance of this victory in their quest to return to Europe’s elite competition. Goalkeeper Mike Maignan maintained a clean sheet, demonstrating his reliability as Milan’s clinical finishing and tactical discipline proved too much for Bologna to overcome.