Bologna shock AC Milan to win first Coppa Italia title in 51 years | OneFootball

Bologna stunned AC Milan at the Stadio Olimpico, beating the seven-time UEFA Champions League winners 1-0 to claim the 2025 Coppa Italia.

The Rossoblu lifted the title for the first time since 1974 and only the third time in their history after a superb performance against lacklustre Milan.

Bologna brought their A-game to Rome, pressing this hapless Milan team backwards, and the Rossoneri had no response to the otherworldly pressure.

Bologna boss Vincenzo Italiano was barking instructions from the first to the last minute of the 90, desperate not to lose a third final of his young career.

Milan were bereft of ideas, and you’d be forgiven for thinking their players did not know it was a final.

From Rafael Leao to Theo Hernandez to Christian Pulisic and Luka Jovic, the Rossoneri did not turn up.

The 19-time Serie A winners could barely string passes together and did not fashion anything of note.

Meanwhile, Bologna took the lead via Dan Ndoye early in the second 45. The ball fell to him inside the box, and he kept his composure before finishing with aplomb beyond Mike Maignan.

Bologna finished the job to secure their first cup title in 51 years. Many wondered if they could cope without manager Thiago Motta and key players like Riccardo Calafiori and Joshua Zirkzee.

Critics questioned whether Italiano was cut out for coaching at the highest level after losing the Coppa Italia to Inter Milan with Fiorentina and missing out on the Europa Conference League.

However, Italiano and Bologna silenced those doubts by clinching the title. They can still make this an even more memorable season by qualifying for the Champions League.

Bologna are seventh place on the Serie A log, two points off Juventus (fourth), and will back themselves to sneak into one of the European slots even if they miss out on the Champions League.

As for Milan, they have now gone 22 years without Coppa Italia success. The trophy would have helped paper over the cracks of a disappointing 2024/25 campaign, but it was not to be.

Milan boss Sergio Conceicao will likely leave his position after failing to turn the tide.

The Milan hierarchy must take a long, hard look at themselves after their failures and chart the best course of action for the club.