AC Milan are in crisis. A 2-4 defeat to Bologna at San Siro, their first league loss of the season, has left Ruben Amorim's side fifth in Serie A on 18 points, seven behind the pacesetters, with the derby against Inter arriving on Saturday in the worst possible circumstances.

The Bologna defeat exposed every fragility currently running through the squad. Amorim was without eight players through injury, including Rabiot, Gila, Moreira, Saelemaekers, Gabbia, Chukwueze, Loftus-Cheek and Terracciano. Fikayo Tomori, one of the few experienced defenders available, then limped off during the match, adding another name to an already alarming list. The manager acknowledged the toll after the final whistle, pointing to fatigue and the sheer volume of absences as key factors.

The timing could hardly be worse. Milan face Inter at San Siro on 31 October in a derby that carries real weight in the title conversation. Whether Tomori, Gila, Rabiot or Moreira can recover in time remains uncertain, and Amorim will need answers quickly.

There are still positives to hold onto. The 2-0 win at Udinese the previous weekend showed the squad can perform under pressure, with Pulisic, Hutchinson and debutant Diawara all impressing. Young forward Alphadjo Cisse scored twice against Bologna, underlining his growing importance. But the injury list is now so long that managing the squad through this period has become Amorim's most pressing challenge.