Pulisic Out as Milan Visit Bologna

BREAKING: Pulisic ruled out as Milan’s road streak meets Bologna’s home slide tonight

AC Milan’s trip to Stadio Renato Dall’Ara just got tougher. I can confirm Christian Pulisic will miss tonight’s Bologna vs Milan clash through injury. He is Milan’s top scorer this season. His absence reshapes the game plan and the balance of this match.

Kickoff is set for Tuesday, February 3, 2026, in Serie A Matchday 23. Milan are unbeaten away this season, 11 on the bounce. Bologna have not won at home in five league games. One streak will snap, or the pressure will only grow. The stakes for Europe are real, and they start now.

Team news that changes everything

Pulisic’s late scratch is a blow. Milan’s right side has driven many of their best moments. Without him, the visitors must adjust width, ball progression, and how they attack the back post. Expect more touches for the left winger and fullback to compensate. Milan’s staff has drilled quick rotations in the final third. Those patterns will be crucial now.

Bologna have issues of their own. Goalkeeper Lukasz Skorupski is suspended, so Federico Ravaglia is expected to start. He is brave, but he lacks the veteran’s volume of big-match reps. Center back Jhon Lucumi is not fully match-ready. Bologna will have to protect their box with shape and discipline. Early nerves can be costly with Milan’s pace out wide.

Form lines that define the night

Milan arrive with confidence. Eleven unbeaten away in the league is no accident. They manage tempo on the road, break lines cleanly, and rarely panic. Their defense bends at times, then snaps back with timely blocks. The midfield covers ground and recycles the ball with care. It is a mature approach.

Bologna’s numbers tell a different story. Winless in five at home, they have sagged in key moments. Set pieces have been a concern. Final balls have missed by inches. The talent is there, the execution has not matched it. The crowd will demand a response. Dall’Ara can lift a team that shows bite.

• Milan’s away edge, 11 without defeat, meets Bologna’s home rut.
• Bologna’s keeper change, plus a defense not at full power, is a real test.
• Pulisic’s absence forces Milan to solve chance creation in new ways.

Tactics on the chalkboard

Milan’s shape will tilt to the left more than usual. The focus will be finding their star winger early, then isolating him against the fullback. Without Pulisic, the right flank may feature an inverted runner cutting inside. That can free the overlapping right back for low crosses and cutbacks. Look for a steady double pivot, protecting counters and feeding switches.

Bologna must be brave between the lines, but not reckless. The first press is vital. If they can force Milan to play narrow, they can attack the space behind the fullbacks. Ravaglia will need clear passing lanes for short restarts. Any hesitation invites a red-and-black press and quick turnovers.

Set pieces could swing this. Milan attack near-post zones with pace. Bologna must secure the second ball. At the other end, Bologna like flat deliveries to the penalty spot. Milan’s markers cannot drift.

Players and moments to watch

Rafael Leao is the headline threat. He stretches teams, then punishes gaps. Without Pulisic, he will carry more of the load, both creating and finishing. Milan’s right back becomes a quiet key, offering width and timing those runs into space. In midfield, the first receiver must be tidy. One poor touch can flip the field.

For Bologna, the front line needs direct runs behind. That will test Milan’s center backs and force them to turn. The number eight who joins late into the box is a danger man to track. Ravaglia’s command on crosses will matter. No free looks at loose balls.

The stakes in black and white

Milan sit second and want more than survival. They want control of the top four race. Three points tonight keep pressure on the summit and maintain a clean away slate. Bologna hover around eighth. Europe is within reach, but home form must turn now. The locker room knows it. So do the stands.

I expect a tense opening, then a surge. One early chance could break the dam. The visitors bring rhythm, the hosts bring urgency. Fine margins decide these nights, the kind you remember in May.

Conclusion

This is a clash of belief. Milan trust their road habits, patient and relentless. Bologna trust their stadium, loud and proud, even after recent stumbles. Pulisic’s absence tilts the tactics, but not the drama. Watch the wings, watch set pieces, and watch the first 15 minutes. They will tell you everything about the last 15.