Bologna’s Last-Minute Magic Lifts the Roof Off Stadio Renato Dall’Ara
No one at the Stadio Renato Dall’Ara expected fireworks this late, but Riccardo Orsolini delivered just that—a breathtaking overhead kick deep into stoppage time that sent Bologna fans into pure chaos. With one elegant, acrobatic strike, Orsolini didn’t just snag the win; he blew the Serie A title race wide open, leaving Inter Milan and their supporters stunned on an evening that promised so much but ended in heartache.
Inter Milan rolled into Bologna with their typical swagger but were battered by injuries. Big names like Marcus Thuram, Denzel Dumfries, and Piotr Zielinski had to watch from the sidelines, while Marko Arnautovic wasn’t close to full fitness. It put the pressure on Lautaro Martinez and a patched-together crew to deliver when it mattered most. They saw plenty of the ball, with Inter’s midfield enjoying the bulk of possession. You’d think that would unlock a solid Bologna defense, but Nicola Ravaglia stood tall between the sticks and the backline refused to flinch, time after time. Martinez forced Ravaglia into a sharp save early on, and the likes of Dan Ndoye worked tirelessly to carve out openings, only for Benjamin Pavard to make crucial blocks to keep the game deadlocked.
With Inter pushing forward, their fatigue became obvious, especially given the relentless schedule that also includes a deep run in the Champions League and an all-important Coppa Italia semifinal against their cross-city rivals, Milan. Bologna, meanwhile, were far from full strength themselves. Key figures like Nicolò Casale and Lukasz Skorupski were missing, yet the team’s spirit never wavered. And as the match ticked into stoppage time, it was clear both sides felt the pressure. But Orsolini saw his moment in a crowded box—seven Inter defenders were supposedly enough to prevent disaster. One perfect scissor-kick later, and Bologna seized three critical points that could reshape the whole season.
Title Race Takes a Sharp Turn as Napoli Benefit
Orsolini’s heroics weren’t just a personal triumph. They knocked Inter off their perch, at least for now. With Napoli cruising to a confident win over Monza earlier in the day, the top of the Serie A table suddenly looks a lot tighter. Inter, once seemingly in the clear, are now locked with Napoli on points, their once-comfortable lead erased in ninety-plus minutes of grit, exhaustion, and a single flash of brilliance.
Despite the setback, Inter’s Nicolo Barella tried to keep spirits high. “There are a lot of matches left. A loss is always hard to stomach, but this isn’t normal—we had seven defenders against three attackers in the box,” he said post-match, shaking his head in disbelief. For Inter, there’s no time to dwell on what went wrong. With injuries piling up and the fixture list only getting tougher, each game is now a must-win if they want to see the trophy at San Siro in a few weeks’ time.
Bologna’s win, scrappy and dramatic as it was, signals their rise as a dangerous opponent—especially when underestimated. For now, eyes turn to the next chapter in this unpredictable season. One thing’s for sure: the finishing line in Serie A just got a whole lot closer for everyone in the chase.