AC Milan vs Bologna: Rossoblu End 51-Year Wait With Historic Coppa Italia Win

Dan Ndoye’s Second-Half Strike Seals Coppa Italia Glory As Vincenzo Italiano Lifts His First Major Trophy.

AC Milan vs Bologna: Dan Ndoye’s second-half strike handed Bologna a long-awaited moment of glory. They defeated AC Milan by a narrow 1-0 margin in the 2025 Coppa Italia final at the Stadio Olimpico. The win marked Bologna’s first Coppa Italia trophy win since 1974 and their third overall.

And they successfully denied Milan a second piece of silverware this season. After a tense and goalless first half, Bologna found the breakthrough in the 53rd minute. Riccardo Orsolini was initially dispossessed in the box. However, the loose ball fell kindly to Dan Ndoye.

Full-time at the Stadio Olimpico. pic.twitter.com/tsSx16IQET
— AC Milan (@acmilan) May 14, 2025

The Swiss winger showed great balance to stay on his feet as he clinically drilled a low shot past the Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan. It was Ndoye’s first goal of the Coppa campaign and what a time it was to score the maiden. The historic goal made him only the second Bologna player to score in a Coppa Italia final.

The first was Giuseppe Savoldi whose goal came back in 1974. The goal forced Milan boss Sergio Conceicao into action. He brought in Santiago Gimenez and Joao Felix as substitutes as a bid to spark a comeback. However, Bologna’s defense held firm under pressure till the end of the game.

Also Read: How Many Times Have AC Milan Won the Coppa Italia Trophy?

Milan’s Missed Opportunities

Milan started the game brightly. Rafael Leao created an early chance for Alex Jimenez. In response, Bologna goalkeeper Lukasz Skorupski produced a spectacular double save to deny both Sam Beukema’s own goal and Luka Jovic’s rebound attempt. Milan boasted a 1.41 expected goals (xG) compared to Bologna’s 1.04.

However, Conceicao’s men couldn’t find a way through. Their attacking impetus waned as Bologna controlled possession. Even with the attacking reinforcements, Milan failed to test Skorupski again. Jovic’s miss in the first half, which carried an xG of 0.73, proved the most decisive moment of regret for the Rossoneri.

Also Read: Coppa Italia 2025 Prize Money: How Much Have Bologna Earned Along With the Trophy?

Italiano’s Redemption and Bologna’s European Boost

For Bologna manager Vincenzo Italiano, the win was especially meaningful. After three final defeats with Fiorentina, he finally secured silverware. After losing the 2023 Coppa loss to Inter, this was his game of redemption. This historic win also seals Bologna’s qualification in next season’s UEFA Europa League along with the Supercoppa Italiana.

While Bologna celebrated a historic evening in Rome, AC Milan were left to reflect on a missed opportunity to secure a second trophy for the season. Additionally, sitting in 8th position in the Serie A table, they may have lost their chance to qualify for next season’s European competitions.

AC Milan

AC Milan vs Bologna

Bologna

Coppa Italia

Coppa Italia Final

Dan Ndoye

Moumita Dutta

soccer

Football writer at The Playoffs. I’ve been obsessed with the beautiful game since I was a kid.. Eventually, I realized I could combine my passion for writing with my love for football, and I’ve never looked back. My favorite part of the job is everything—when you’re doing what you love, even a late-night deadline feels like extra time in a thrilling cup final. Lastly, Lionel Messi is the GOAT.