Orsolini's magic knocks down Inter in injury time. Napoli joins the Nerazzurri at the top

Bologna, 20 April 2025 – A fantastic overhead kick by Riccardo Orsolini knocks down Inter in injury time (the Nerazzurri thus remain level on points at the top with Napoli) and relaunches Bologna's European ambitions, which powerfully raises its head after the misstep in Bergamo. A piece of magic capable of resolving a match that was undoubtedly more lively in a first half that started better for the Nerazzurri and ended on a high note by the Rossoblu, who in turn had at least a couple of delicious goal-scoring opportunities. After the break, however, things changed with the spectacle dropping and the intensity and nervousness rising exponentially (Inzaghi's assistant Farris and the Bologna coach Italiano were sent off) until the final stages in which the Felsinei's game found great strength and led to the winning and decisive move by Orsolini.  

Italiano and Inzaghi's choices

Bologna coach Vincenzo Italiano has to deal with several absences and relies on the tried and tested 4-2-3-1: between the posts, in place of the injured Skorupski, there is Ravaglia, protected by a back four formed by Holm and Miranda on the wings and the central pairing of Beukema-Lukumi. In front of the defense, given the problems suffered by Ferguson, there is Aebiscer alongside Freuler, while Ndoye, Odgaard and Dominguez – preferred to Orsolini – operate in the three-quarter line, behind the striker who is Dallinga, in his fourth consecutive start (Castro starts from the bench). Simone Inzaghi responds by lining up his Inter with the usual 3-5-2: Pavard, Acerbi and Bastoni form the central trio protecting the goalkeeper Sommer. The wings are instead the responsibility of Darmian and Carlos Augusto, with Barella, Calhanoglu, and Mkhitaryan in the middle of the field. Finally, up front, an all-Argentine attacking tandem, with “Tucu” Correa preferred to Arnautovic and Taremi to replace the injured Thuram and flank Lautaro Martinez.

Lively and fast-paced first half

Inter took to the field with great competitive spirit and after just 3' he sends a very clear signal to Bologna with Lautaro's soft but poisonous shot, deflected into a corner by the attentive Ravaglia. And it is precisely from the developments of the corner kicked by Calhanoglu that Inter's second goal opportunity is born, signed by Carlos Augusto who heads the ball out just a few centimetres from the post. Bologna, however, has the great mental strength to quickly reorganise its ideas and implement the high pressing that is the true trademark of the rossoblù: a pressure made up of continuous doubling up that sends the Nerazzurri's play into a tailspin and gives confidence to Italiano's team, which appears in Sommer's area for the first time with danger thanks to Ndoye, who in the 17th minute tries a left-footed shot from the edge, which goes just wide. LThe Bolognese game, however, grows steadily and in the 28th minute comes the second and even clearer goal opportunity for the home team: everything starts from a one-on-one with Ndoye who aims and beats Acerbi before serving Dallinga with a low cross who hits with a sure shot but finds the decisive deflection of Pavard who, just a step away from the goal line, avoids the opponent's advantage. As expected, the pace slows in the final part of the first half and Inter tries to take advantage of this, regaining ground and creating the last real opportunity of the first 34 minutes in the 45th minute with Bastoni's header following a corner, which ends up just over the crossbar of the rossoblù goal.

Orsolini solves it with an overhead kick

The match restarts without substitutions by Italiano and Inzaghi, with a lot of intensity on both sides with Inter trying to get around the pressure of the rossoblù by looking for depth. The rossoblù protest after a few minutes for a vigorous contact in the area between Bastoni and Dallinga but to see the first, timid jolts of the second half we have to wait for the 53rd minute, a minute in which Correa wastes from the edge of the area by shooting the ball into the stars. Bologna's response is immediate with Dominguez who, on the developments of a free kick, fails to frame the opponent's goal with a right-footed curler. Meanwhile, tempers are heating up both on the pitch and on the benches, with referee Colombo showing a double red card for Bologna manager Italiano and Inzaghi's assistant Farris, after a heated exchange in close quarters.. The cards (and yellow cards for Ndoye and Bastoni) are not enough to fully restore order on the pitch where great competitive spirit continues to reign, and push Inzaghi to make his first changes: in the 65th minute Dimarco and Frattesi come in to replace the cautioned Bastoni and Mkhitaryan and 4 minutes later Taremi also comes in to replace the “Tucu” Correa, while for Bologna the first to come in, in the 69th minute, is Orsolini who replaces Dominguez and positions himself on the right with Ndoye who moves to the left wing. Net of the substitutions, the match pattern remains unchanged, with continuous duels especially in midfield and the total absence – in contrast to what was seen in the first 45 minutes – of real goal opportunities. To see the first real flash of the second half, we had to wait until the 80th minute when Lautaro Martinez, following a throw-in, took advantage of an uncertainty by Ravaglia and headed the ball onto the post., but everything is ruined by the irregular charge of the Argentine “Toro” on the rossoblù goalkeeper. Bologna takes it and responds by throwing themselves forward and coming close to taking the lead with Cambiaghi's header that goes wide just a few centimetres from the goal. In the final minutes, then, Inzaghi tries to go for broke by throwing Bisseck and the ex of the day Arnautovic into the fray and Bologna responds with the additions of Fabbian and Moro for Odgaard and Aebischer. However, it is Bologna who believe in it with greater conviction and, right at the last gasp, the magic of Riccardo Orsolini arrives, who scores the goal that is worth the three points for Bologna with an overhead kick following a throw-in. The scoreboard: Bologna (4-2-3-1): Ravaglia; Holm, Beukema, Lucumì, Miranda; Aebischer (from 87' Moro), Freuler; Ndoye (from 76' Cambiaghi), Odgaard (from 87' Fabbian), Dominguez (from 69' Orsolini); Dallinga (from 76' Castro). Italian Coach. Inter Milan (3-5-2): Sommer; Pavard, Acerbi, Bastoni (from 65' Dimarco); Darmian (from 87' Bisseck), Barella, Calhanoglu, Mkhitaryan (from 65' Frattesi), Carlos Augusto; Correa (from 69' Taremi), Lautaro Martinez (from 87' Arnautovic). Coach Inzaghi. Scorers: Orsolini (Bologna 90+4'). Note - Yellow cards: Mkhitaryan (Inter), Ndoye (Bologna), Bastoni (Inter), Correa (Inter), Castro (Bologna), Arnautovic (Inter), Orsolini (Bologna). Red cards: Italiano (Bologna coach) and Farris (Inter assistant coach).