News Focus
- Napoli lose 3-2 at home to Bologna in crucial Serie A clash at the Stadio Maradona
- Jonathan Rowe scores 91st-minute winner with spectacular acrobatic volley
- Partenopei fight back from 2-0 down but fail to secure vital Champions League qualification points
- Captain Giovanni Di Lorenzo returns from three-month injury layoff to score
- Kevin De Bruyne misses match after suffering head injury in training
Bologna stunned Napoli with a late comeback to secure a dramatic 3-2 victory in Serie A on Sunday evening. The result leaves Napoli’s hopes of qualifying for next season’s Champions League hanging in the balance.
The hosts knew that three points would guarantee a place in the top four. However, they faced a tough challenge against a Bologna side that had already beaten them earlier this season.
Napoli suffered a blow before kick-off when Kevin De Bruyne was ruled out. The midfielder needed four stitches to his cheekbone after a clash of heads during training. Romelu Lukaku and David Neres were also absent, though captain Giovanni Di Lorenzo made his first appearance since suffering knee ligament damage in January.
Bologna welcomed back Joao Mario, but they were without Martin Vitik, Nicolò Cambiaghi and Nicolò Casale. Jonathan Rowe started on the bench as he was not fully fit.
The visitors started strongly and took the lead after just ten minutes. Federico Bernardeschi combined with Juan Miranda before smashing a powerful left-foot shot into the top corner.
Bologna nearly doubled their advantage soon after. Riccardo Orsolini saw his effort blocked, but the ball fell to Miranda who struck the crossbar.
Napoli slowly grew into the match. They tested Bologna goalkeeper Massimo Pessina through Giovane and Alisson Santos. Scott McTominay also came close when his header flew just wide from a corner.
The referee awarded Bologna a penalty midway through the first half. Miranda reached the ball before Di Lorenzo and the Napoli captain caught him on the boot. After a VAR review, the spot-kick was given. Orsolini converted the penalty despite goalkeeper Vanja Milinkovic-Savic getting a hand to the ball.
Just before half-time, Di Lorenzo made amends for conceding the penalty. Rasmus Hojlund controlled a pass from Matteo Politano, the ball bounced off Remo Freuler, and Di Lorenzo fired it in off the underside of the crossbar.
Napoli started the second half brightly. Di Lorenzo almost scored again with a header that skimmed the crossbar from a Politano corner. Moments later, the home side equalised. Hojlund passed to Alisson Santos on the left, and the midfielder swept a low shot into the far corner.
Politano and Miguel Gutierrez both forced saves from Pessina as Napoli pushed for a winner. However, Bologna had other ideas.
In the 91st minute, Rowe produced a moment of brilliance to win the match. Milinkovic-Savic parried a powerful cross-shot from Miranda, but the ball looped up for Rowe to score with a stunning scissor-kick volley from 12 yards out.
The defeat leaves Napoli in a difficult position in the race for Champions League qualification. They must now rely on other results to secure a top-four finish with only a few matches remaining.