BOLOGNA, Italy, April 15 — AC Milan were held to a 1-1 draw by Bologna today as a second-string line-up slipped in Serie A’s top four race ahead of a Champions League showdown with Napoli.

The champions travel to Naples with a one-goal lead to defend in Tuesday’s quarter-final second leg and the Milan coach’s decision to rest his stars at in-form Bologna led to a stalemate which leaves his team fourth in Italy’s top flight, level on 53 points with third-placed Roma.

Coach Stefano Pioli dropped every single outfield player from Wednesday’s win and Nicola Sansone slammed home Stefan Posch’s cross for the hosts just 33 seconds into the match at the Stadio Dall’Ara.

Milan recovered from the early shock, quickly took control of the match and after Ante Rebic and Alessandro Florenzi both forced decent saves from Lukasz Skorupski, Tommaso Pobega slammed the leveller in off the post four minutes before the break.

Pioli began to bring on his more trusted players midway through the second half but form forwards Brahim Diaz and Rafael Leao failed to find the breakthrough which would have ensured them a spot in the Champions League places for at least another week.

Instead his side can be overtaken by Inter Milan, who sit two points behind their local rivals and host fellow Lombardy outift Monza in today’s late match.

Bologna meanwhile stay eighth and five points from the Europa Conference League spot held by Atalanta, who are at Fiorentina on Monday night.

Napoli host struggling Verona later today hoping to take their league lead back to 16 points before turning their attentions to Milan. — AFP