Bologna is preparing to challenge Milan at San Siro, and Raffaele Palladino's team is banking on Artem Dovbyk to change the course of the match. The Ukrainian striker, who arrived from Roma in the summer, has had a history of injuries that has limited his performances, but he showed he has the potential to make a difference when he was introduced against Sassuolo, scoring a goal that showed his ability to turn a moment into a result.
Palladino publicly expressed the need to see more commitment from Dovbyk in training, asking him to give more and demonstrate his desire to become a protagonist again. The coach made it clear that the opportunity to gain space on the pitch depends on the level of daily work. Although the bench in Sardinia attracted attention, Palladino preferred to give the start to Odgaard, with whom he is still on the ballot, and left Dovbyk waiting for a concrete possibility.
The striker has only had four appearances in the league, all as a substitute, but the goal against Sassuolo showed that even a few minutes can be decisive. With Piccoli unavailable due to injury and Enem in less than optimal condition, Bologna's bench could open up, offering Dovbyk an opportunity to demonstrate his usefulness. Palladino underlined that to earn minutes it is necessary to show intensity, availability and hunger on the pitch.
Dovbyk's record against Milan is positive: he scored one goal in the three times he played against the Rossoneri, including a goal in the Italian Cup on 5 February 2025 when Bologna won 3-1 against Roma. This record fuels the expectation that the attacker can find the net even against such a strong opponent. However, the most important match for him is the one against himself: turning the bench into motivation and demonstrating that he is ready to contribute to Bologna's project.
Bologna will return to play on Saturday, and managing the group's energy could become an ally for Dovbyk. If he manages to take advantage of his new opportunity, he will be able to prove that he is an important asset for the team. The final result will depend on his ability to transform motivation into performance, and Bologna awaits concrete answers from their Ukrainian striker.