May 11, (THEWILL)- Bologna took a giant stride towards qualifying for a UEFA Champions League berth, as they defeated last season’s Serie A champions Napoli emphatically. Thiago Motta’s irresistible side produced a scintillating first-half display to effectively end the contest within the opening 15 minutes at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium.
The visitors raced into a two-goal lead courtesy of headed efforts from Dan Ndoye and Stefan Posch, leaving the home faithful disgruntled. Napoli were handed a lifeline when they were awarded a penalty after Victor Osimhen was hacked down in the box by Remo Freuler, but Matteo Politano’s tame spot-kick was comfortably saved by Federico Ravaglia in the Bologna goal.
Despite Napoli’s desperate attempts to find a way back into the game, Bologna remained in control throughout the second half. Joshua Zirkzee and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia went close for their respective sides, but the best chance fell to Osimhen, who spurned a gilt-edged opportunity to reduce the deficit.
With two matches remaining, Napoli’s faint hopes of European qualification are hanging by a thread, while Bologna could book a place in next season’s UCL as early as tomorrow, depending on other results.
Motta’s men have been a revelation this campaign, defying all pre-season expectations to mount an unexpected challenge for a top-four finish in Serie A.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
