Castro rewrites history. Santi's delirium: Atalanta cancelled. Bologna, it's a crazy Cup

by correspondent Gianmarco Marchini

In your pocket the Bologna has the keys to History and now opens the door whenever he wants. He did it again. After an incredible qualification in the Champions League last season, yesterday evening in Bergamo, the rossoblù conquered a Italian Cup semifinal that was missing since 1999. Twenty-six years to get his head back so far. The head is that of Santiago Castro, who enters at the end and splits the match with the strength that only the predestined have.

It's the eighty minute that has been handed down to historians: Lykogiannis paints a free kick from about thirty meters on which Santi bursts in. Higher than everyone else: a goal that is a crazy scream. It is the very strong voice of this Bologna that has returned to make the world tremble, after a summer, last summer, that was supposed to bring everyone back down to earth. And instead the impossible happened: Vincenzo Italiano He convinced his boys that they could still be great and that last season's masterpiece was no coincidence.

The path taken by the rossoblù in the Champions League has shown it, the 37 points in the league have shown it (a record in the three-point era) and the performance at home against Atalanta has confirmed it. A gigantic performance on an evening that would have scared any team. Not this Bologna, however, who in the first half decides to wait for the Goddess: Lykogiannis and Holm remain low to guard the lanes where Gasperini loves to rage. A De Ketelaere in a crazy variable evening sinks his left foot among the rossoblù certainties and forces Skorupski to make his first real intervention after 7 minutes. Odgaard tries to give the shock, first verticalizing for Ndoye, then trying from the edge: two shots out. De Ketelaere again inspires two Nerazzurri thrusts, with Lyko and Holm providential in closing. But the coldest shiver comes at 40', Odgaard touches his left thigh: in comes Dominguez. At the end of the half, Ndoye does the first thing as Ndoye: he sows panic and serves Pobega who shoots with a sure shot on the run, but it finds Hien.

The second half opens with a slalom by Dominguez. But the inertia is tinged with black and blue because Atalanta wants to avoid penalties. Bellanova calls Skorupski to a miracle (6'). Gasp also thinks about the championship and changes: Pasalic, Retegui and Zappacosta out, Samardzic, Maldini and Cuadrado in. But the biggest chance falls to Pobega, on an action built by Ndoye: the shot that was sure to go is deflected with a miracle by Rui Patricio. The game heats up, Bologna starts to believe and has another great chance, but Dallinga shoots high. Cuadrado and Ndoye create important breaks. CdK comes out for Brescianini who immediately sends Maldini to goal: shot blocked by Skorupski. When penalties seem to be taking shape on the horizon, a silhouette appears: that of Castro. And in the 80th minute the man of destiny reveals himself: a free kick from thirty meters perfectly cut by Lykogiannis, Santi flies into the sky, and heads the goal. The Argentine literally throws himself into the arms of the thousand four hundred rossoblù fans. It is a historic night. It is Bologna's night. In the semifinals one between Juventus and Empoli. Find a fan who hopes to challenge the Tuscans. This Bologna is too beautiful and too strong to give up the pleasure of looking Motta in the eyes.