Empoli-Bologna: the Coppa Italia challenge rekindles the dream of a comeback

Thursday 24th April theEmpoli will take to the field at the Dall'Ara for the return match of Italian Cup semifinal against Bologna. A match that, at least on paper, seems already written, thanks to the clear 3-0 defeat suffered by the Azzurri at the Castellani in the first leg. And yet, those who know the history of the Azzurri know well that there are precedents that fuel hope, even when all seemed lost.

This is the case, for example, of the 2001-02 season, when Empoli found themselves in exactly the same situation, with three goals to recover against Bologna. At the time it was the second round of the Coppa Italia, and even then the first round played in Tuscany ended with a heavy 1-4 for the Felsinei (with an Italian goal scored by Tavano). But in the return match, at the Dall'Ara, the Azzurri came close to achieving the feat: a 3-1 victory scored by Bonetto and a brace by Maccarone, a bitter elimination but with heads held high, with the feeling of having come very close to writing a page in history.

And it is precisely that memory that today rekindles the flame of possibility. Because, if it is true that qualification now seems compromised, it is equally true that the Coppa Italia It can provide twists and turns, unexpected emotions and games that remain in your memory.