Santiago Gimenez and Christian Pulisic powered AC Milan to a crucial 3-1 home win over Bologna on Friday, a victory that not only kept their slim top-four hopes flickering but also set the stage for a tantalising Coppa Italia final clash on Wednesday.

The result lifted Milan to eighth on 60 points, three behind Juventus in fourth, who will face sixth-placed Lazio, also on 63 points, on Saturday. Bologna sit seventh with 62 points.

The match acted as a thrilling dress rehearsal for Wednesday’s Coppa Italia final, where the two sides will face off once more at the iconic Stadio Olimpico in Rome.

After a mostly uneventful first half, Riccardo Orsolini took charge four minutes after the break, cutting in from the right and drilling a low shot into the corner to put Bologna in front.

Gimenez brought Milan level in the 73rd minute, latching onto a diverted cross from Pulisic and, left unmarked in the box, he slotted home with calm precision.

Pulisic then completed the turnaround for Milan with 11 minutes remaining, capitalising on a blocked shot that fell into his path while Gimenez scored Milan's third in stoppage time. REUTERS

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