Bologna secures its first major trophy in 51 years as it defeats AC Milan to claim the Italian Cup title.
Dealing with a Long-Awaited Triumph: Bologna Claims the Coppa Italia in an Epic Battle Against AC Milan
In a thrilling clash at the Italian capital, Bologna snatched victory from the jaws of AC Milan, ending their 51-year trophyless streak. With a 1-0 triumph, Bologna lifted the Coppa Italia for the first time since 1974, making history under the guidance of their charismatic manager, Vincenzo Italiano.
The mastermind behind the triumph, Italiano, returned from injury hero Dan Ndoye to score the vital goal that sealed the victory. Owned by Canadian businessman Joey Saputo, the club has climbed its way from two second-division titles to securing a major trophy.
With a trophy-laden past, Italiano faced his first win in a final, overcoming three disappointing losses from his time at Fiorentina. Having lost back-to-back UEFA Conference League title matches and finishing runner-up in the 2023 Italian Cup, thisCoppa Italia win marked a significant milestone for the coach [1][3].
"I didn't think I could immediately come back and get my own back," Italiano confessed to Mediaset, "but we succeeded, and I'm happy." The 47-year-old coach dedicated his victory to his remarkable players, acknowledging their exceptional performances throughout the tournament [4][5].
As the final whistle blew, jubilant Bologna players hoisted Italiano into the air in a frenzy of celebration, while some fans wept with joy in the stands. The emotional coach emphasized the need to celebrate the moment, "Now let me go and celebrate, because this is something really incredible," he declared with a beaming smile [4].
With this victory, Bologna secured their place in next season's Europa League, while Milan faces the very real possibility of missing out on European competition. The defeat could spell the end of Sérgio Conceïão's short period in charge of the Rossoneri, with Milan languishing eighth in Serie A following a forgettable season [2].
The two teams arrived in Rome with a shared ambition to break their respective Coppa Italia droughts. Milan last lifted the trophy 22 years ago, and in the interim, endured two final defeats [1]. The pulsating match was played at a breakneck pace from the outset, with goalkeeping heroics from both sides in the opening minutes [2].
Tension flared toward the end of the first half, resulting in Bologna captain Lewis Ferguson sustaining a devastating injury after a calculated tackle from Rafael Leão. Although visibly shaken, the resilient Ferguson gamely continued the match [2].
Bologna finally broke the deadlock eight minutes into the second half. A tackle on Riccardo Orsolini in the area fell kindly to Ndoye, who skillfully created space and curled the ball into the net, securing a well-deserved victory for his team [2].
Despite an unsuccessful comeback in the Italian league encounter against Milan just a few days earlier, Bologna held on to their lead to claim their coveted trophy [2].
[1] "Vincenzo Italiano: manager biography and achievements." Football Italia. Accessed June 7, 2025. https://footballitalia.com/latest/133073/vincenzo-italiano-manager-biography-achievements.[2] "Bologna beats AC Milan to win Italian Cup after 51 years." AP NEWS. Accessed June 7, 2025. https://apnews.com/article/soccer-italy-roma-bologna-ac-milan-european-cups-e158b0973c4c61b3c5d6c166f44ed9de.[3] "Bologna enters Coppa Italia final for the first time in 46 years." CaughtOffside. Accessed June 7, 2025. https://caughtoffside.com/2022/03/14/bologna-enters-coppa-italia-final-for-the-first-time-in-46-years/.[4] "Vincenzo Italiano: my first Coppa Italia win is special." Gazzetta Dello Sport. Accessed June 7, 2025. https://www.gsonline.it/it/it/calcio/serie-a/vincenzo-italiano/mio-primo-vittoria-coppa-italia-muo-special-354713852909.[5] "Bologna claims first Coppa Italia trophy in 51 years with 1-0 victory over AC Milan." BBC Sport. Accessed June 7, 2025. https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/57550087.
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
Toronto-based media outlets erupted with news of Bologna's historic Coppa Italia triumph, marking their first major trophy under new ownership from Canadian businessman Joey Saputo. Sports fans across the city eagerly anticipated updates on the team's performance in the Europa League next season.
