Nkunku And Loftus-Cheek Shine For Milan As Allegri Praises Quality After Bologna Win

AC Milan extended the push for a top-four Serie A finish with a controlled 3-0 win over Bologna, highlighted by standout displays from Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Christopher Nkunku. The result moved Milan to 50 points after 23 matches and kept the team four points clear of Napoli in second place.

Loftus-Cheek broke the deadlock on 20 minutes after a smart move involving Adrien Rabiot, while Nkunku converted a penalty shortly before half-time. Rabiot then struck in the second half to secure the three points, and Milan closed out the game with a clean sheet against organised opponents.

Massimiliano Allegri underlined how important the two attacking midfielders were in shaping the performance, stressing Bologna’s threat and Milan’s focus. Allegri told

DAZN: "Nkunku and Loftus-Cheek are players of enormous quality. It was always going to be a game that we needed to take seriously, because they have been very decent at the back. Bologna are a dangerous team that plays well. The boys did well defensively and offensively. It was a good game tonight. In my opinion, we have to do better in ball management. We played well because Nkunku and Loftus-Cheek did well, allowing us to play with the ball and giving us depth. "

Recent league form highlights Nkunku’s growing influence. Nkunku has scored five goals in the last six Serie A games, the same number Nkunku recorded across the previous 48 league appearances in Serie A and the Premier League combined. Loftus-Cheek has also developed a strong record against Bologna, scoring three Serie A goals versus Bologna, more than against any other club in the competition.

Rabiot’s contribution this season has been consistent in both scoring and creativity, supporting Milan’s attacking core behind Nkunku and Loftus-Cheek. Rabiot has four goals and four assists in Serie A in this campaign. Among midfielders in the league, only Rabiot and Nico Paz have at least four goals and four assists, with Paz on eight goals and six assists.

4+4 - Adrien #Rabiot (4G+4A) is only one of the two midfielders to have scored at least four goals and provided at least four assists in #SerieA this season, along with Nico Paz (8G+6A). Lively.#BolognamilanOptaPaolo (@OptaPaolo) February 3, 2026

Milan’s latest victory also carries historical significance for the club’s recent league campaigns. The team now sits on 50 points in Serie A after 23 fixtures, a benchmark Milan have reached after 23 games only three times since the 1994-95 season, previously in 1995-96 and 2003-04.

Allegri linked that total directly to long-term goals, emphasising league position over individual results. "It was important for us to get to 50 points for the season because our goal has always been to reach the top four," Allegri added. "We defended very well from 3-0, not conceding is always good. It's more important to look ahead, because it's a long season and we still need a lot more points to qualify for the Champions League. We'll enjoy this break, because were not playing on Sunday, and will hope to have all our players available again. "

The win over Bologna strengthened Milan’s hold on second place and underlined the importance of Nkunku, Loftus-Cheek and Rabiot in Serie A. With a short rest before the next league outing, Milan can reflect on defensive solidity at 3-0 and an effective attack, while still targeting the extra points needed to secure Champions League qualification.