❗️ Milan v Bologna: Leão, Ndoye the key men, benches in focus⚡️ | OneFootball

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Milan and Bologna have many reasons to want this cup. On one side, a wounded Devil from a complicated season, with a coach on his way out but who could surprisingly say goodbye with two trophies in less than six months.

On the other side, an entire community dreaming of a milestone that has been missing since 1974. It's the big night for Bologna and a team that in the last two years has continued to raise the bar game after game.

The predictions favor the Rossoneri, but only because of what history says. The field will give its verdict, as always.

🏄‍♂️ A Night for Rafa

The best Leão is needed, the one who often lights up when the occasion calls for a gala outfit. The Portuguese is definitely the number one threat for Italiano, the man who will need to be doubled, if not tripled.

But he's not the only one. Reijnders is having an MVP-worthy season, Theo as a fifth (if Milan decides to play with three at the back) can break the game, Pulisic rarely disappears on nights like this.

And then there's Jović, yes, him. The man who was forgotten for three-quarters of the season, only to enter the starting XI and never leave. Inter knows something about this, as it was the Serbian who dashed their Treble dream in the semifinals.

💪 The Strength of the Group and... Ndoye

On paper, the Rossoblù squad is not on par with Milan's. However, when you look at the standings, you realize that it's Orsolini and his teammates who are ahead.

Bologna is a team, plays offensive football, and has the strength of the group as its main weapon. If then, as happened in Venice and against Inter, Orsolini transforms into 'Orsonaldo', the Emilians can scare anyone.

The variable here will be Ndoye's condition, whose last appearance was on April 20, almost a month ago. It's impossible to expect a player at 100%, but Italiano hopes that even at 50% he can make a difference. The same goes for Castro, who should start on the bench and make an impact later. In his place, Dallinga.

🤔 Conceição and Italiano, Can the Cup Change the Future?

Who knows what will become of Conceição's and Italiano's fate after tonight's final. The two coaches have experienced diametrically opposite seasons, and their futures also seem to be heading in different directions.

The Portuguese coach is always with his suitcase in hand, but in case of success, he might also have the cards to play for confirmation. After all, starting from scratch again would mean facing a possible new "year zero," where you build while watching others lift trophies. With two cups and a targeted market, perhaps the self-candidacy of the former Porto coach shouldn't be dismissed outright.

Vincenzo Italiano, on the other hand, is almost certain to stay in Bologna. Few would have taken the bench after Thiago Motta's departure, where - at least according to what was said last summer - there was only something to lose.

Among them was Italiano, who not only kept the team in the European zones and in the Champions League fight until the end, but also finds himself competing for a prestigious trophy like the Coppa Italia. So, in case of a Rossoblù victory, a dilemma could arise: stay to try to repeat the success, or leave as a winner, knowing he has already made history?

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