Bologna achieved a historic victory in Rome, clinching their first Coppa Italia title in 50 years and third overall by defeating AC Milan, featuring Christian Pulisic, with a score of 1-0. This triumph marks a significant achievement under the ownership of Canadian businessman Joey Saputo, who took control in 2014. The club`s most recent previous trophy was the 1998 Intertoto Cup.
The winning goal came in the second half from Dan Ndoye, securing the trophy for coach Vincenzo Italiano. This victory is particularly sweet for Italiano, who had lost three finals while managing Fiorentina but has now won silverware in his inaugural season with Bologna. For AC Milan, who had won the Supercoppa Italiana earlier in January and eliminated city rivals Inter in the Coppa Italia semifinals, this defeat potentially jeopardizes their European participation next season. Bologna`s win guarantees them a spot in the Europa League. AC Milan still has a path to the Champions League by finishing in the top four of Serie A.
As things stand, it remains uncertain whether American international Christian Pulisic will participate in European club competition during the season leading up to the 2026 World Cup, set to be hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
While Bologna celebrates their first major title in half a century, adding another milestone alongside their qualification for the upcoming UEFA Champions League season, AC Milan faces a period of reflection on their season and future direction.
The club, owned by American businessman Gerry Cardinale, is widely expected to appoint their third manager in less than a year in the near future, with current manager Sergio Conceicao`s tenure appearing uncertain beyond the current season. AC Milan needs to address the issues from this season to ensure they don`t potentially miss out on all European competitions in the 2025-26 season.
They currently sit in eighth place in Serie A and require crucial points in the remaining matches to secure any European qualification spot.
