Bologna in the Coppa Italia final after 51 years: challenge against Milan on May 14

Rome wasn't built in a day. Bologna returning to the Coppa Italia final after fifty-one years is a work that has its roots in time. A masterpiece. The translation of a footballing enlightenment onto the pitch. Translated into Italian, of course. For him, a municipal ordinance like Nettuno would be needed: cordon him off. Too many emotions to be tainted with fear of tomorrow. This is an unforgettable night, and it is no coincidence that for the first time, at the end of the match, Lucio Dalla's 'La sera dei miracoli' resounds with chills.

But Vincenzo da Ribera built the miracle piece by piece, from the first day, a summer ago, when he arrived greeted by dark clouds of skepticism. Because replacing the saint Thiago was almost a sacrilege, replicating his deeds – imagine – almost blasphemy. Here Italiano has gone further, to the metaverse, doing even better. He has brought Bologna fourth in the standings, in the midst of the Champions League race, and has punched the other ticket to the Olimpico where on May 14 they will challenge Milan.

Italiano wanted it so much, so damn much, this final, he who with Fiorentina came within a step of the finish line three times, always getting burned when it came to raising his arms (and the cup). He wanted it so much that, last night, in the face of the chasm dug by the three to zero of the Castellani, he didn't think twice about fielding the best of the possible Bolognas. The turnover? Another time, maybe. On the field the central pairing of Beukema-Lucumi who at Easter defused Inter's heavy artillery. On the field the man of the Panini 3.0 overhead kick: Orsolini. All obviously under the direction of Freuler, the true guarantor of the entire system. In short, nothing left to chance.

If Empoli were nursing some tepid hopes of a comeback, they crumbled when the rosters were read and the start was ready. The night at the Dall'Ara, opened with a touching minute of silence in memory of Pope Francis, lasted a paltry seven minutes in football terms: just enough time to see Moro deliver a sweet cross on which Fabbian headed a header that beat Seghetti and broke down the last superstitious resistance. The rossoblù had several chances to run riot, but they played with the understandable lightness of those who go to the final exam with 110 cum laude already in their pocket. What do you want to say to them? Kovalenko's equaliser in the 33rd minute crowned the effort of an opponent who had closed the drawer of dreams a while ago, scared as they are by the ghosts of relegation.

At half time, Italiano begins to do some calculations, thinking about the Udine match on Monday: and so Lucumi and Orso are out, for Erlic and Dominguez, with the latter trying to entertain the twenty-seven thousand of a Dall'Ara still drunk from the Easter feat with Inter. However, Dallinga decides, once again taking the place of a Castro confined to the bench by a sore foot. After the brace in the first leg, the Dutchman repeats in the 41st minute and writes his name on a night consigned to history. For an eternity, Bologna and its people have been waiting to open their suitcases again, fill them with a dream and get on that train to Rome. A ticket that is worth double: it also includes a trip to the Super Cup for the Squadron that makes the world dream.