Samuel Mbangula hit a hat-trick to steer Bologna to a 4-2 comeback win over AC Milan, who lost for the first time in Serie A under Ruben Amorim.

After Mbangula had given the visitors an early lead at San Siro, an Alphadjo Cisse double flipped the game around for Milan, only for Bologna to rally in the second half, as the Belgian completed his hat-trick either side of a Davide Bartesaghi own goal.

Bologna's early pressure told in the eighth minute when Nadir Zortea pulled it back from the right byline for Mbangula, who finished first-time past a frustrated Mike Maignan.

But Milan soon equalised thanks to a moment to forget for Arthur Theate. The defender was under pressure from Omari Hutchinson and slashed a clearance across his box, straight to an unmarked Cisse, who made no mistake from close range in the 14th minute.

And Cisse got his second 13 minutes later when Fikayo Tomori latched onto Hutchinson's blocked cross to swing in a dangerous delivery.

Cisse, again unmarked in the six-yard box, stuck out a leg to deflect it in.

Bologna made the brighter start to the second half with Jens Odgaard sending a great chance just over the crossbar.

It was super-sub Juan Miranda who proved the difference, though. Just one minute after his entrance, he whipped in a left-sided free-kick, which Bartesaghi clumsily turned into his own net on the hour.

Just 91 seconds later, Bologna were back in front. Miranda was not picked up on the left and fizzed in a dangerous cross, which Mbangula dragged away from his marker before rifling into the top-left corner.

Milan pushed for an equaliser, but without causing Lukasz Skorupski too many problems, and Bologna snatched a clincher. Odgaard raced down the right before picking out Mbangula, who ghosted between the hosts' centre-backs to slot in.

FT. https://t.co/2PYYU9YHFI

— AC Milan (@acmilan) October 28, 2026

Marvellous Mbangula steals the show

Raffaele Palladino has made a brilliant start to life in the Bologna dugout, and this victory now means he is just the third coach to win each of his first three Serie A away games in charge of the club, and the first since Gyorgy Sarosi in 1957.

At half-time, however, it looked like the game was going to belong to Milan and Cisse, who Amorim had said he wanted "everything" from in a pre-match interview, and the youngster buried both of his chances with fine finishes.

In fact, he is the third-youngest Milan player (20 years and six days) to score a brace with both his left foot and right foot in a Serie A match in the last 20 years.

But it was Mbangula who took home the match ball. He had a game-high four shots to rack up 1.53 expected goals (xG) of Bologna's 1.86 total. He scored with all three of his efforts on target, and also won seven duels (a team-high).

He is also only the second player to score a hat-trick away to Milan in Serie A's history, after Gabriel Batistuta (September 1998 for Fiorentina).

While Bologna are making progress, it is a setback for Milan, who lost for the first time in the league this season, leaving them seven points behind rivals – and Serie A leaders – Inter ahead of the Derby della Madonnina this weekend.