Inter Faces Another Setback at Bologna While Napoli Edges Closer to Glory
Inter Milan continues to struggle at Bologna, a trend that didn’t change on Sunday. In a dramatic conclusion, Riccardo Orsolini executed a stunning bicycle kick in stoppage time, securing a 1-0 victory for Bologna against the Serie A leaders. This result left Inter level on points with second-placed Napoli, with just five matches remaining in the season.
The loss reminded Inter fans of a past incident with goalkeeper Ionut Radu, who accidentally handed Bologna a victory three years ago, a result that played a significant role in AC Milan winning the title. While Inter did come out on top against Bologna last season, they put in such a strenuous effort that it contributed to their exit from the Champions League against Atletico Madrid just days later.
This recent match was decided when Inter defender Yann Bisseck flicked on a long throw-in, allowing Orsolini to lace a spectacular left-footed volley into the net, igniting wild celebrations at the Renato Dall’Ara Stadium.
With aspirations of a treble this season, Inter faces crucial fixtures in both the Champions League and the Italian Cup. However, coach Simone Inzaghi had pinpointed the match against Bologna as the most significant of the season. Now, Inter finds itself in a tight race with Napoli, managed by Antonio Conte, who are solely focused on securing the title, having no other tournaments to contend with.
Adding to the pressure on Inter, Napoli secured a 1-0 win against last-placed Monza on Saturday. Bologna’s victory lifted them to fourth place, one point ahead of Juventus, who are set to visit Parma on Monday. Atalanta solidified their hold on third place with a narrow 1-0 victory at AC Milan, with Ederson scoring the decisive goal in the 62nd minute. As a result, AC Milan has fallen to ninth place, struggling to earn a position in European competition via the league.
Looking ahead, the upcoming Milan derby adds extra intrigue, as the two teams meet in the second leg of the Italian Cup semi-finals following a 1-1 stalemate in the first leg. After that, Inter will host Roma at the San Siro next weekend before venturing to face Barcelona in the Champions League semi-finals. Bologna could also be a potential opponent again in the Cup final, as they convincingly beat Empoli 3-0 in the first leg of the other semi-final. Earlier on Sunday, Empoli and Venezia played to a 2-2 draw, leaving both teams lingering in the relegation zone.
