Bologna vs Napoli: Tactical Battle Ends in 1-1 Draw

 

UPDATE ON THE MATCH BETWEEN BOLOGNA vs NAPOLI: How the game went.

Stadium: Stadio Renato Dall'Ara, Bologna, Italy.

Referee: Davide Massa.

Managers: Vincenzo Italiano (Bologna), Antonio Conte (Napoli).

Formations:

BOLOGNA (4-2-3-1): Lukasz Skorupski; Emil Holm, Sam Beukema, Jhon Lucumi, Juan Miranda; Lewis Ferguson, Remo Freuler; Riccardo Orsolini, Jens Odgaard, Dan Ndoye; Thijs Dallinga.

SUBS: Martin Erlic, Nikola Moro, Santiago Castro, Nicolo Casale, Oussama El Azzouzi, Tommaso Pobega, Michel Aebischer, Charalampos Lykogiannis, Nicola Bagnolini, Nicolo Cambiaghi, Lorenzo De Silvestri, Benjamin Dominguez, Federico Ravaglia, Estanis Pedrola, Giovanni Fabbian.

NAPOLI (4-2-3-1): Alex Meret; Giovanni Di Lorenzo, Amir Rrahmani, Juan Jesus, Mathias Olivera; Stanislav Lobotka, Frank Anguissa; David Neres, Scott McTominay, Matteo Politano; Romelu Lukaku.

SUBS: Alessandro Buongiorno, Billy Gilmour, Noah Okafor, Claudio Turi, Philip Billing, Rafa Marin, Giovanni Simeone, Cyril Ngonge, Luis Hasa, Pasquale Mazzocchi, Giacomo Raspadori, Simone Scuffet.

Bologna is having a strong run, with 6 consecutive wins, and a victory tonight could greatly improve their chances of qualifying for the Champions League for the second season in a row. A win would also propel them to 3rd place, surpassing Atalanta.

Meanwhile Napoli and Inter are currently competing in a tight title race, with Inter trailing Napoli by 4 points. Napoli's coach, Antonio Conte, will be watching from the stands due to a suspension, adding to the challenge. A loss for Napoli tonight would be a significant setback in their pursuit of the title, especially considering they've only won 2 of their last 8 matches.

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1’ KICK-OFF IN BOLOGNA!

Lukaku gets the game underway for Napoli and we're off!

2’ Napoli get the game off to a very fast start. Lukaku turns but can't pick out Neres before McTominay surges forwards and finds Politano, whose clipped cross is claimed by Skorupski.

4’ Bologna aren't happy as Lukaku firmly challenges Orsolini, but he did get a fair chunk of the ball. The game has started at a good tempo.

7’ They may not spend much more time close to each other on the pitch tonight but the battle between Orsolini and Lukaku could be crucial. The Bologna man is the top-scoring Italian in Serie A across the last three seasons, while Lukaku has scored five goals in his last five games against this opposition. It should be interesting watching them do their thing tonight.

8’ Odgaard wins a corner down the left-hand side, which Bologna take short and the attack eventually fizzles out.

10’ Meret tips an inswinging corner over the crossbar as Bologna begin to get on top.

12’ BRILLIANT DEFENDING FROM BOLOGNA!

Lukaku sends Neres running into space down the left and McTominay is waiting for a cross in the middle, but Holm does brilliantly to recover and sniff out the attack. Top defending from the full-back.

14’ Bologna are working incredibly hard. This time it's Orsolini who tracks Olivera all the way back to block a cross.

15’ BIG CHANCE FOR NERES! 

Napoli put together a nice move, Di Lorenzo and Lobotka combining to release McTominay, who plays in Neres to shoot high and wide.

18’ ANGUISSA SCORES AND NAPOLI LEAD!

Superb play from the midfielder, latching onto a loose ball on the halfway line and storming past the entire Bologna defence, touching the ball round the goalkeeper and slotting in. Brilliant goal. 1-0!

20’ Bologna look to hit back immediately as Mirandi swings in another good corner but Meret claims a weak header from Odgaard.

23’ The good news for Bologna is that they are unbeaten having conceded first in Serie A home matches this season, winning three and drawing one of the four instances. The bad news is, Napoli are unbeaten when they score first.

25’ EARLY SUB FOR BOLOGNA!

Bologna have a problem with their goalkeeper Skorupski and he's going to have to be replaced. Ravaglia is on in his place.

28’ CHANCE FOR BOLOGNA!

Dallinga fires over! The forward takes a nicely-weighted pass down on his chest but volleys over on the turn.

28’ Nearly a disaster for Lobotka as his pass out from the back is intercepted but Aebischer overhits his ball and Napoli have a lucky escape.

31’ Lukaku's hold-up play causes more problems for Bologna. He picks out Neres again but the pull-back is just behind McTominay, who can only scoop his attempt over the bar.

33’ MCTOMINAY WITH A GOOD EFFORT!

Politano is released over the top and picks out the Scotsman, who gets off a decent effort that sub keeper Ravaglia pushes behind.

36’ Bologna have lost their way in the last few minutes with Napoli looking more likely to double their lead. The shot count is at 4-4 but the xG sits at 0.17-1.08 in favour of the visitors.

39’ The game hits a lull as Bologna keep the ball in their own half and Napoli are more than happy to wait for them to commit.

41’ ANOTHER HUGE SAVE FROM RAVAGLIA! 

Holm's weak back pass is pounced upon by Politano, who seems to have rounded the keeper but is denied by an outstretched hand as he shoots. Big let off for Bologna.

44’ There are lots of whistles from the home fans as Ndoye loses a duel with Di Lorenzo and Napoli play on with the winger down. The game is eventually brough to a halt, and the hosts are fuming at the referee here.

45’ ADDED-TIME!

Three minutes of time are added on at the end of the first half.

45+2' Bologna win a free-kick just inside Napoli's half on the left, their final chance to get the ball in the box before the break.

45+4' AEBISCHER HEADS WIDE FOR BOLOGNA!

Aebischer bends an effort wide of the post from 20 yards with Bologna's last attempt of the half.

45+4' HALF-TIME: BOLOGNA 0-1 NAPOLI.

Bologna's key player Orsolini, has been relatively quiet, with only 17 touches in the opening period. Napoli's front players on the other hand, have been more threatening, with Lukaku's hold-up play and McTominay's aerial threat standing out.

Napoli have had several scoring opportunities, including McTominay and Politano being denied by Bologna's substitute keeper, Ravaglia. Bologna have also had chances, including a volley from Dallinga that went over. Napoli are currently leading 1-0, thanks to a goal from Anguissa, who burst through midfield and scored with composure.

According to the OPTA Live Win Probability calculator, Napoli have a 68.3% chance of winning, while Bologna have an 8.4% chance. Napoli are also leading 1.08-0.26 on xG, although Bologna have won the shot count 6-4.

46’ BOLOGNA KICK US OFF HERE!

Bologna get the second half going as they kickoff.

47’ FOUL FROM NAPOLI!

A stray arm from Rrahmani strikes Odgaard in the face, though it did look accidental. The referee sees nothing amiss.

49’ A Bologna corner picks out Aebischer, who heads meekly straight at Meret.

52’ Bologna have made a fast start to the second half, with a flurry of corners. Napoli nearly get away on the break with Lukaku though, a sharp reminder of their threat.

55’ TREATMENT FOR SCOTT MCTOMINAY!

McTominay goes down after a 50-50 with Odgaard, but the Scot is the one who is penalised. He looks in some pain and receives treatment from the physios.

58’ Bologna work the free-kick out to the right, where Holm swings in a dangerous delivery that is put behind for another corner.

59’ BRILLIANT SAVE BY MERET TO KEEP NAPOLI AHEAD! 

Lucumi flicks on a corner that looks set to sneak in or be tapped in by a team-mate, only for the goalkeeper to chuck out a hand and divert it away from immediate danger. The ball still bounces around the box but is eventually put behind for a goal kick.

60’ YELLOW FOR NAPOLI!

Di Lorenzo goes into the book for a foul on Ndoye as Bologna ratchet up the pressure.

60’ ORSOLINI GOES CLOSE! 

The free-kick comes all the way through to the back post, where the Italian chests the ball down and fires over the top from an angle.

64’ NDOYE BRINGS BOLOGNA LEVEL!

Odgaard darts in behind and squares for Ndoye, who scores brilliantly with a back-flick finish that bounces down off the bar and into the side of the net. Another superb goal in this game. 1-1!

67’ It's a goal that Bologna deserve for their second half performance. It continues a rich vein of form for Ndoye, who has six goal contributions in his last four Serie A home games.

70’ SUBSTITUTION FOR THE HOSTS!

McTominay goes down and needs to be replaced, with Gilmour the man to come on.

73’ Ravaglia and Neres come together on the edge of the Bologna box, with the goalkeeper forced to pull off some gymnastics on his landing, but no foul is awarded by the referee.

74’ SUBSTITUTION FOR NAPOLI!

Raspadori replaces Neres for the visitors.

75’ This is a big 15 minutes for Napoli, who have been quite clearly second-best in this half. Conte's side haven't even had a shot since half-time but must find a winner if they are to move back within one point of leaders Inter.

77’ DOUBLE SUBS FOR BOLOGNA!

Orsolini has had a quiet game and is replaced by Cambiaghi. Dallinga is also replaced with Castro coming on.

79’ YELLOW FOR NAPOLI!

Olivera is into the book for a foul on substitute Cambiaghi.

80’ Miranda's set-pieces have been dangerous and Meret is forced to deal with another free-kick that was dipping towards goal.

81’ Jesus hurriedly clears as the ball bounces around the Napoli box, before the visitors defence have to deal with a long throw into the box.

84’ Bologna fancy this game now as Napoli continue to look tired and defend. The hosts flood forward again and Lobotka hacks a clearance out for another throw.

86’ Bologna win a free-kick out on the right this time, which Aebischer swings in. Lukaku gets enough on his header to deal with the initial danger.

87’ ANOTHER DOUBLE SUBSTITUTION FOR BOLOGNA!

Dominguez is on for the goalscorer Ndoye as Bologna give this one final go. Fabbian also replaces Odgaard.

Anguissa goes into the book for a tired foul on Dominguez down the left as Napoli continue to labour.

90’ SO CLOSE TO A WINNER FOR BOLOGNA! 

Miranda's excellent corner is met by Holm, who forces Meret into a flying save. The rebound falls to Castro but the striker can't sort his feet out and it bobbles wide from just a couple of yards.

90’ ADDED-TIME!

Four minutes will be added on at the end of the second half.

90+2' SUBSTITUTION FOR NAPOLI!

Ngonge replaces Politano for Napoli.

90+2' YELLOW CARD FOR BOLOGNA!

Aebischer is booked as he yanks Gilmour back on the edge of the box. Napoli are about to have their first shot of the half in the last minute...

90+4' NAPOLI NEARLY STEAL ALL 3 POINTS! 

Raspadori's free-kick hits the wall but his follow-up - via a nick off Oliveira - forces a save before Rrahmani's effort evades Lukaku and Anguissa in the box.

90+6' FULL-TIME: BOLOGNA 1-1 NAPOLI.

This intense football match has concluded with a 1-1 draw between Napoli and Bologna. Despite Napoli's early lead, courtesy of Anguissa's impressive individual goal, Bologna staged a remarkable comeback. 

The hosts relentless pressure in the second half, including six shots inside the box, ultimately earned them a well-deserved point when Ndoye scored a clever equalizer.

Bologna dominated the shot count with 12 shots to Napoli's 6 but Napoli had a slight edge in expected goals (xG) with 1.15 to Bologna's 0.87.

Bologna will also travel to face third-place Atalanta next week and Napoli will host Empoli next Monday, still trailing leaders Inter by three points.