Bologna Postponement Severely Weakens Milan for Napoli Duel – Two Stars Out | OneFootball

Lega Calcio’s decision to postpone Saturday’s Serie A game between Bologna and Milan will have significant implications for Rossoneri’s next league fixture. According to Calciomercato, Paulo Fonseca’s side will take on table-topping Napoli without first-team stalwarts Theo Hernandez and Tijjani Reijnders.

Hernandez and Reijnders were supposed to serve their one-match suspensions at Renato Dall’Ara. The Frenchman received a two-game ban for a red card he picked up after the final whistle in a 2-1 defeat at Fiorentina right before the international break. He was out as 10-man Milan toppled Udinese last weekend.

Reijnders, who was sent off in the game for a clumsy challenge on Sandi Lovric, was handed a one-game suspension. Unfazed by that incident, the Dutch midfielder scored a second-half double to propel Milan to a 3-1 home win against Club Brugge in midweek UEFA Champions League action.

Like Hernandez, Reijnders should’ve skipped Saturday’s trip to Bologna. It would see him return to the fold against Napoli. However, the postponement will return to haunt Milan next week when they entertain Antonio Conte’s high-flying team at Stadio San Siro.

Had Milan been awarded a default 3-0 triumph for the Bologna game, Reijnders and Hernandez would have been eligible to play against the Partenopei. Since that’s not been the case, Fonseca will face a selection nightmare when Napoli touch down at San Siro amid his desperate attempt to return to fans’ good grace following a stuttering start.