Serie A: 10-Man Verona Fall to Bologna as Visitors Revive Top-Four Bid

Bologna revived their European qualification hopes with a hard-fought 2-1 win at Hellas Verona, who finished the match with 10 men.

Bologna took a significant step towards reviving their European qualification hopes with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over 10-man Hellas Verona at the Stadio Marcantonio Bentegodi. This triumph marked Bologna's first win in six visits to Verona's home stadium and propelled them to within two points of the Serie A top four.

Bologna's recent resurgence, which has seen them suffer just one defeat in 2025 (W5, D4), had reignited their ambitions of securing a second consecutive UEFA Champions League qualification. With a favorable fixture against struggling Verona, Bologna seized the opportunity to apply pressure on the teams above them in the standings, ultimately emerging with a crucial three points.

The first half of the match between Hellas Verona and Bologna was largely uneventful, with both teams struggling to gain momentum due to a series of minor fouls. Genuine scoring opportunities were scarce, with Amin Sarr and Nicolas Valentini both missing the target for Verona, while Bologna failed to create any meaningful chances. However, the visitors eventually broke the deadlock just before halftime with a moment of quality.

Bologna's goal was expertly crafted, as Davide Calabria's precise through ball found Jens Odgaard, who showcased his composure by slotting the ball into the corner after a couple of touches. The Rossoblu's goal sparked a more energetic display in the second half, with Bologna pushing to extend their lead. Lorenzo Montipo produced an outstanding save to deny Odgaard a second goal, and the Verona goalkeeper also thwarted Riccardo Orsolini's low drive from the edge of the area.

Verona thought they had equalized on the hour mark when Casper Tengstedt beat Lukasz Skorupski at the second attempt, but their celebrations were short-lived as the goal was disallowed due to offside. This close call seemed to galvanize Verona, but Bologna maintained their tempo and eventually sealed the win with a second goal.

Bologna continued to push for a second goal, with Michel Aebischer testing Lorenzo Montipo's reflexes once again. As the match entered its final stages, Bologna's task was simplified when Nicolas Valentini received his second yellow card, reducing Verona to 10 men with around 10 minutes remaining.

Despite their numerical disadvantage, Verona almost found an equalizer shortly after Valentini's dismissal, but Casper Tengstedt's powerful effort from inside the box sailed over the crossbar. Bologna eventually doubled their lead through Nicolo Cambiaghi, whose weak but accurate shot managed to slip under the diving Montipo.

A big away day for @BolognaFC1909en, who make it three wins in a row ✅✅✅#VeronaBologna pic.twitter.com/xhVfTxsI1W

— Lega Serie A (@SerieA_EN) March 9, 2025

Verona responded swiftly, with Daniel Mosquera bundling the ball over the goal line at the second attempt from close range, reducing the deficit to a single goal. However, Valentini's earlier dismissal had already taken its toll, and Verona struggled to dominate possession or territory in the final stages. As a result, Bologna managed to hold on to their lead and secure a vital three points.

The victory marks only Bologna's second win in seven league away games and provides a welcome boost to manager Vincenzo Italiano. In contrast, Verona remains just four points above the relegation zone and continues to face significant challenges at the wrong end of the table.