Empoli-Bologna 0-3, Azzurri overwhelmed in the Italian Cup

Empoli, 1 April 2025 – Empoli: it's late at night. The Bologna mortgage the final of Coppa Italia, beating the Azzurri 3-0, in the first leg semifinal played at the “Castellani”. Unlike the two matches of the Serie A championship, the Emilian team shows an overwhelming superiority from the first to the last minute of the game. The return match will be played on April 24 at the stadium Renato Dall'Ara.

D'Aversa opts for Kovalenko instead of Grassi. Henderson he is disqualified.

The first half is a monologue of the team coached by Vincenzo Italiano. The first chance is for the Felsinei: in the 2nd minute Orsolini gets away from his marker and hits a diagonal shot from the right: the ball goes just wide. In the 16th minute Dallinga tries to head the ball from close range: the ball goes wide. In the 23rd minute the advantage goes to the rossoblù: Odgaard runs down the left, gets to the bottom and crosses: Dallinga lets the ball slip out and it reaches Ursu, who, all alone in front of the goalkeeper, scores from a few steps away.

At 29' the guests doubled their lead: on a service from Ndoye, magic from Dallinga, who invents a delicate touch with the outside of his right foot in the area that anticipates the defender and leaves Seghetti no chance. In the 39th minute, a nice diagonal from the left by Solbakken, who until then had been evanescent: Skorupski deflects the ball into a corner, which the referee inexplicably does not award. A more balanced second half, with Empoli showing their pride. In the 6th minute, a splendid Bologna move: Odgaard serves Ndoye on the left, the ball passes to Dallinga who does not forgive in a slide, scoring the third goal.

In the 16th minute Gyasi, one-on-one with Skorupski, misses the goal that could have reopened the match. In the 23rd minute Orsolini flashes: Seghetti is good at parrying the shot. In the 36th minute Miranda has a nice left-footed shot, with Seghetti able to lift it over the crossbar. In the 38th minute Dallinga heads the ball close to goal: Seghetti saves on the line. In the 45th minute Cambiaghi makes a wonderful move: his cross-shot ends up on the post to the left of the goalkeeper. For the Bologna the final is no longer a dream, for Empoli it is a must to return to focusing on the championship.

TABLE EMPOLI – BOLOGNA 0-3 EMPOLI (3-4-2-1): Seghetti; De Sciglio, Marianucci (17' st Goglichidze), Tosto (1' st Pezzella); Gyasi, Bacci (1' st Sambia), Kovalenko, Cacace; Fazzini (31' st Grassi), Solbakken (17' st Esposito); Colombo. Subs: Vasquez, Bracolini, Kouamè, Viti, Ebuehi, Konate. Coach: D'Aversa. BOLOGNA (4-2-3-1): Skorupski; Calabria (21' st Holm), Beukema, Lucumi, Miranda; Fergusson, Freuler (37' st Aebischer); Orsolini (29' st Cambiaghi), Odgaard (29' st Fabbian), Ndoye (37' st Dominguez); Dallinga. Subs: Bagnolini, Ravaglia, Erlic, Moro, Casale, Al Azzouzi, Pobega, Lykogiannis, De Silvestri, Pedrola. Coach: Italiano. REFEREE: Zufferli of Udine. MARKERS: 23' Orsolini, 29' pt and 6' st Dallinga. NOTES: windy evening. Corners: 0-2. Injury time: 2', 4'.