Bologna v Internazionale Live Commentary & Result, 26/2/23, Serie A

Pos	Team	P	W	D	L	F	A	+/-	PTS	Form
1	NAP Napoli	37	27	6	4	75	28	+47	87	D W L W D
2	LAZ Lazio	37	21	8	8	58	30	+28	71	W W D L W
3	INT Internazionale	37	22	3	12	70	42	+28	69	W L W W W
4	MIL Milan	37	19	10	8	61	42	+19	67	W W L W D
5	ATA Atalanta	37	18	7	12	61	46	+15	61	L W L L W
6	ROM Roma	37	17	9	11	48	37	+11	60	L D D L D
7	JUV Juventus	37	21	6	10	55	33	+22	59	L L W W W
8	TOR Torino	37	14	11	12	42	40	+2	53	W D W D W
9	FIO Fiorentina	37	14	11	12	50	42	+8	53	W D W L D
10	MON Monza	37	14	10	13	46	47	-1	52	L W W D D
11	BOL Bologna	37	13	12	12	50	47	+3	51	D W D D L
12	UDI Udinese	37	11	13	13	47	47	0	46	L L L W D
13	SAS Sassuolo	37	12	9	16	46	58	-12	45	D L L D L
14	EMP Empoli	37	10	13	14	37	47	-10	43	D W D W W
15	SAL Salernitana	37	9	15	13	48	60	-12	42	W D W L D
16	LEC Lecce	37	8	12	17	31	43	-12	36	W D D L L
17	SPE Spezia	37	6	13	18	30	60	-30	31	L D W L L
18	VER Hellas Verona	37	7	10	20	30	56	-26	31	D L L W L
19	CRE Cremonese	37	4	12	21	34	69	-35	24	L L L W D
20	SAM Sampdoria	37	3	10	24	24	69	-45	19	D L D L L

That's all from Dall'Ara today, so thank you for joining us and goodbye!

A fourth win from five sets Bologna up well for a clash with fellow European contenders Torino next week, while beaten Inter must tackle lowly Lecce and Spezia before the second leg of their Champions League tie against Porto.

Another impressive performance from Bologna edges the Rossoblu past a tepid Inter, who hardly made it out of neutral during a disjointed display. Orsolini's strike split the sides, but the hosts could have been at least one goal ahead at half-time and were rarely troubled by their more illustrious visitors. Inter are now 18 points adrift of first place, while Bologna move into Serie A's top seven by winning back-to-back home games against the Nerazzurri for the first time this century.

90' + 6' FULL-TIME: BOLOGNA 1-0 INTER

90' + 5' SHARP STOP! Skorupski effects a punched save from Gosens' goalbound drive, keeping his side in front! Dzeko's layoff set up what could be Inter's final chance, but the Polish keeper was equal to it!

90' + 3' There is a general lack of direction behind Inter's attempts to equalise, as they continually hurry in possession and give away the ball. Bologna edge ever nearer to victory.

90' + 1' There are to be at least six minutes of stoppage time at Dall'Ara, so Inter will not be giving up on salvaging a point at the venue where their title challenge crumbled last year.

G. Medel

J. Schouten

87' The final switch of Bologna's triple change sees Schouten coming off for ex-Inter man Medel.

M. Aebischer

R. Orsolini

87' Aebischer comes on for potential match-winner Orsolini, who receives warm applause from the home fans upon his departure.

A. Raimondo

M. Barrow

87' Barrow's race is run, as teenager Raimondo gets a chance to impress in the first-team.

N. Domínguez

Yellow Card

85' A sliding challenge on Bastoni brings down his opponent and results in a booking for Dominguez.

N. Moro

L. Ferguson

83' Ferguson is replaced, as Moro is offered a brief run-out.

G. Kiriakopoulos

R. Soriano

83' Having struck the goalframe and also put in a good shift on the left, Soriano makes way for Kyriakopoulos.

V. Carboni

M. Brozović

83' Inzaghi opts for a further change, as Carboni comes on for Brozovic.

81' With a shot on the turn from 20 yards out, Martinez misses the target via a deflection. His consolation prize is a corner, but Inter ultimately waste the set-piece situation.

79' Dzeko lays off the ball on the edge of the box, following Gosens' cutback, but Brozovic sees his effort charged down on the edge of Bologna's box.

78' Following his emphatic finish today, Orsolini has scored seven times in Serie A this season, opening the scoring on three occasions.

J. Schouten

Assist

76' Presented with possession by a stray pass, Schouten delivers a throughball from the halfway line to split the Inter defence and pick out goalscorer Orsolini.

R. Orsolini

Goal

76' BOLOGNA LEAD! Orsolini does it again! The in-form winger strides through a gaping hole in Inter's defence, latching onto Schouten's sweeping ball from deep to power past Onana from the edge of the area. His clinical strike puts Bologna 1-0 ahead, and victory is in sight!

74' SAVE! When Orsolini is gifted the ball in midfield before releasing Barrow clear through the centre, it seems Bologna are finally to receive their reward for a fine performance. However, the stand-in striker is unconvincing with his low shot, which barely tests Onana in the Inter goal!

72' A loose long ball up from the back evades the entire Inter team, allowing Skorupski to scramble out and claim possession for his team. Bologna are standing firm here, and the outcome remains very much in the balance.

70' SAVE! Enlivened by their substitutes' arrival, Inter switch the ball about with purpose, before Acerbi clips over a cross which Dzeko steers towards goal from close range. Skorupski is well placed, though, and gets his body behind it!

D. D'Ambrosio

D. Dumfries

68' Dumfries, who was booked not long ago, makes way for D'Ambrosio. That could see Darmian shift across to the right flank.

66' After neat interplay between Barella and Martinez, a loose touch from Dzeko gives the ball away. However, he soon makes amends by winning his team a corner.

64' An ill-advised crack from nearly 30 yards out sees Posch send the ball spiralling over the Inter goal, as Onana watches on unperturbed.

E. Džeko

R. Lukaku

64' Lukaku's fruitless shift up front is drawn to an early close, as Dzeko comes on to replace him.

N. Barella

H. Mkhitaryan

63' Barella is required to lace up his boots and interrupt a rare rest: he comes on for Mkhitaryan.

D. Dumfries

Yellow Card

63' A clumsy challenge by Dumfries on Soriano results in a yellow card for the Dutchman.

62' Though Skorupski flaps at a corner sent over from the left, Barrow ultimately gets the ball clear for Bologna.

60' It's clear that Inter are stepping up a gear now, as they seek to turn the flow of proceedings their way. Inzaghi is also readying a couple of changes by the look of his activity near the touchline.

58' SAVE! A hurried snap-shot from Lukaku forces Skorupski into making a low diving save! Lucumi's error opened up the chance for the Belgian striker, but it lacked the conviction to sneak inside the near post.

57' Inter have found the net in each of their last seven league meetings with Bologna, scoring 20 goals in the process, and the Rossoblu's last clean sheet in this contest came back in 2019. If they don't score in the closing half-hour today, Inter could fail to register in successive Serie A away games for the first time in nearly four years.

55' Bologna look comfortable in their shape, and former Inter midfielder Motta must be happy with his team's display so far - all it's lacked is a goal.

53' TRIPLE CHANCE! Bologna miss out again, as Barrow can't turn in Orsolini's low ball across the six-yard box before Soriano has a drive blocked near the goal-line by Darmian. Dominguez then strikes the follow-up straight at Onana!

52' A charge down the right by Dumfries earns a Inter a corner-kick, but Soriano is able to effect a clearance with his head following the cross and Bologna clear their lines.

50' Brozovic's shoulders slump as he rushes a free-kick towards Gosens on the left and merely puts the ball straight out of play, summing up Inter's approach play so far.

48' MISS! A horribly scrappy start to the half sees Inter finally win possession in midfield, before Gosens manages to prod the ball back into the six-yard box from the left byline. It evades Skorupski, but Calhanoglu fires over from close range!

F. Acerbi

S. de Vrij

46' Having been booked during the first half, De Vrij is withdrawn by Inzaghi, as Acerbi comes into Inter's back three.

46' Bologna kick off, and we are back under way at Dall'Ara!

A symptom of Inter's slow build-up play is that Lukaku had just nine touches of the ball during the first half, while they have managed only one shot on target as a team. That must surely improve if the Nerazzurri are to record a 16th league win of the season and cement their grip on second place in Serie A.

Escaping punishment for a sluggish start, Inter traipse down the tunnel at half-time still level with a bright Bologna side, who had a goal ruled out by the VAR and also rattled the woodwork. Though the Nerazzurri improved a little as the interval approached, they may be feeling the effects of a big Champions League clash in midweek, while Inzaghi has also made a few changes. Their hosts, though, posed a threat on several occasions, with Barrow and Soriano both coming close to opening the scoring.

45' + 3' HALF-TIME: BOLOGNA 0-0 INTER

45' + 3' From the free-kick, Orsolini comes a little closer with his latest attempt, as the last kick of the half sees the winger send a curling strike comfortably over the crossbar.

S. de Vrij

Yellow Card

45' + 1' For a crude block on Ferguson just outside the Inter area, De Vrij receives the game's first booking; also conceding a dangerous free-kick.

45' Orsolini winds up an ambitious curling strike from the right, but he fails to test Onana - in fact his shot flies well over the crossbar.

44' A throughball by Soriano for Dominguez seems to set the latter up for a strike at goal from the edge of the area, but he slips on the rain-slicked pitch and the ball bobbles away.

42' Following a rejected penalty appeal from Barrow, Cambiaso picks up the ball on the left side of Inter's area, and his pacy cross towards the six-yard box is cut out by Onana.

40' JUST WIDE! Now, Inter are getting closer to a goal! Bastoni slings over a wicked cross from the left, but Martinez can only send his header from near the penalty spot wide of the near post!

39' Skorupski makes a simple save in the centre of his goal, as Calhanoglu finally records Inter's first shot on target. The strike from 20 yards lacked his customary power, as the Inter midfielder slipped when following through.

37' After Lucumi wins a sliding duel with Martinez and earns his side a throw-in deep inside Inter territory, Orsolini is caught offside as he attempts to steal clear down the right flank.

35' A frustrated Dumfries is penalised for tripping Soriano tight to the right touchline, and Bologna recover the ball again. Inter are lacking any rhythm at the moment, perhaps as a result of making a few personnel changes.

33' A first sustained spell of Inter pressure on the Bologna box breaks down with a stray pass from Mkhitaryan to Bastoni, who had trundled all the way up from the back.

31' From the back, Darmian hits an ambitious crossfield ball. It fails to reach a team-mate, but Mkhitaryan then picks up possession around 20 yards from goal and slams a rising shot over the crossbar. That's about as close as Inter have come so far.

29' Bologna continue to push Inter back into their defensive third, and the away side appear content to play on the break today.

27' Ferguson asks a lot of Orsolini to reach a low pass towards the right side of the area, and Onana slides out in the slippery conditions to claim the ball just in front of the Bologna winger.

25' Though Lukaku and Martinez link up on the edge of Bologna's box, the latter is unable to force his way through an area crowded with Rossoblu shirts, and Lucumi is able to stab the ball clear.

23' Bologna are bossing the ball so far, as they have had 55 per cent of the ball. They have certainly been the better side, with six shots at goal to Inter's two.

21' A first-time ball down the inside-right channel by Brozovic has just too much pace on it for Lukaku to reach, and the ball trundles behind for a Bologna goal-kick.

18' OFF THE BAR! Bologna go close again! Onana first repels Cambiaso's rasping drive from the edge of the box, then Soriano hammers the ball at the top-right corner from the rebound: it thunders against the crossbar, and Inter have another narrow escape!

16' After Lukaku has an effort blocked behind for a corner, Martinez then sends a header wide of the target following Calhanoglu's set-piece delivery.

14' NO GOAL! Bologna's opening strike is ruled out, as the referee concurrs with the VAR team - Dominguez was offside when Barrow shot towards goal! So close for the home side, who have started really brightly, but they remain level with Inter!

12' GOAL? Darmian dives in to block a goalbound shot from Ferguson on the left side of the area, but the Bologna attack is not over: when the ball is recycled, the Scot feeds Barrow, who swivels and strikes from the edge of the box. His shot then sears into the bottom-right corner, but was Dominguez offside when Barrow struck the ball? The VAR will decide!

10' After Gosens manages to intercept a dangerous Barrow cross from the left, Onana's fleet-footed turn inside his six-yard box helps Inter to work the ball clear.

8' The last Serie A draw between Bologna and Inter dates back to September 2017; since then, the Rossoblu have won three and today's visitors seven - including a 6-1 win for the Nerazzurri in this season's reverse fixture.

6' Attempting to steal an advantage over his marker, Lukaku mistimes his run from centre to left and is flagged for offside 25 yards out from goal.

4' A hopeful throughball from the back skips past Lucumi in the centre of Bologna's defence, but Skorupski is quick off his line to prevent Gosens, who has drifted in from the left, latching onto it on the edge of the area.

2' Ferguson is felled by a flailing arm from Bastoni, and Bologna have a free-kick out on the right. Orsolini scuffs his delivery, though, and Onana ultimately gathers the ball into his gloves following a slip.

1' Inter kick off, and we are under way in rainy Bologna!

The teams are out on the pitch at a vibrant Dall'Ara, with kick-off now just moments away!

After his winning goal in midweek, Lukaku starts up front for Inter in place of Dzeko, while Brozovic, Gosens, Dumfries and De Vrij are also brought into the team. Federico Dimarco, Milan Skriniar and Joaquin Correa are sidelined by injury, with Barella and Acerbi rested, though the latter pair are still selected on the bench.

Still without ex-Inter striker Marko Arnautovic due to injury, the Austrian's deputy Joshua Zirkzee and centre-back Kevin Bonifazi are also ruled out of the Bologna squad today. In the former's absence, Orsolini has been involved in five of Bologna’s last six Serie A goals - including a late winner last week - but Inter are the side he has played the most Serie A minutes against so far without finding the net (454).

SUBS: Samir Handanovic, Alex Cordaz, Francesco Acerbi, Roberto Gagliardini, Nicolo Barella, Raoul Bellanova, Danilo D'Ambrosio, Kristjan Asllani, Edin Dzeko, Mattia Zanotti, Valentin Carboni.

INTER (3-5-2): Andre Onana; Matteo Darmian, Stefan de Vrij, Alessandro Bastoni; Denzel Dumfries, Marcelo Brozovic, Hakan Calhanoglu, Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Robin Gosens; Lautaro Martinez, Romelu Lukaku.

SUBS: Francesco Bardi, Federico Ravaglia, Georgios Kyriakopoulos, Nikola Moro, Antonio Raimondo, Gary Medel, Niklas Pyyhtia, Lorenzo De Silvestri, Adama Soumaoro, Charalampos Lykogiannis, Michel Aebischer.

BOLOGNA (4-2-3-1): Lukasz Skorupski; Stefan Posch, Jhon Lucumi, Joaquin Sosa, Andrea Cambiaso; Nicolas Dominguez, Jerdy Schouten; Riccardo Orsolini, Lewis Ferguson, Roberto Soriano; Musa Barrow.

While Inter still occupy second place in the Serie A standings, they sit some 18 points adrift of relentless league leaders Napoli, who won again yesterday. Rather than chasing the Scudetto, then, the Nerazzurri are engaged in a scrap to not only secure a top-four finish but also claim 'best of the rest' status as runners-up. This month, Simone Inzaghi has seen his side follow up victory in the Milan derby by drawing with Sampdoria, before beating Udinese and Champions League opponents Porto last week. Ahead of today's game, Inter have won seven of their last 10 meetings with Bologna in Serie A.

Bologna's fine form in 2023 has seen the Emilian club rise to eighth spot in the Serie A standings: Thiago Motta's men have posted 13 points from their last six fixtures - the same total as today's visitors - with three of their four victories coming on away soil, including at Sampdoria last weekend. After the Rossoblu beat Inter at Dall'Ara last season, having failed to win 15 home matches against them beforehand, they now aim for win successive home wins in this fixture for the first time since 1999.

Hello and welcome to live coverage of today's Serie A encounter between Bologna and Inter at Stadio Renato Dall'Ara!

Bologna v Internazionale Live Commentary, 26/2/23

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