Milan put the entire main squad in Serie A

Coach Stefano Pioli accepted the risk, putting all the best forces into the Champions League quarter-final second leg at Napoli in the middle of next week. The price to pay for replacing up to 10 people compared to the starting line-up in the last match, was having to share points with Bologna. The draw leaves Milan just two points ahead of fifth-placed Inter. Pioli's teachers and students missed the opportunity to break through, in the round where Inter lost to Monza 0-1 at home.

Compared to the main squad in the 1-0 win over Napoli in the middle of last week, only goalkeeper Mike Maignan was able to start the field when he met Bologna. The back four Theo Hernandez - Tomori - Kjaer - Calabria was replaced by Ballo-Toure - Thiaw - Kalulu - Florenzi. Tonali and Krunic were also rested, leaving Pobega and Vranckx to start midfield. The positions of Rafael Leao, Bennacer, Brahim Diaz and Giroud were replaced by Ante Rebic, De Ketelaere, Saelemaekers and Origi respectively.

Milan's second line-up conceded a goal in the 33rd second, when Nicola Sansone cut and cushioned the ball to hit the visitors' net. Five minutes later, Ante Rebic was stepped on by Adama Soumaoro in the penalty area, but the referee did not award Milan a penalty. The situation was controversial even after the game, when the two coaches Stefano Pioli and Thiago Motta raised opposing views on the ball. Mr. Pioli also demanded another penalty, when Jhon Lucumi let the ball touch his hand in the penalty area.

Milan had to wait until the 40th minute to equalize, from Tommaso Pobega's brilliant long shot. In the second half, coach Pioli launched the pillars into the field. But the last 45 minutes of the match did not see any goals, but only a rain of cards with six times the referee had to warn the players on both sides.

Napoli, Milan's rival in the middle of next week, also drew in this round. The 0-0 draw with Verona did not greatly affect Spaletti's championship chances, when they were 14 points away from the chasing group. Milan ranked fourth with 53 points, equal to third team AS Roma and eight points behind second-place Lazio.