Bologna, September 19, 2026 – The sun shines on Dall’Ara but on the field whistles rain down. They come from a crowd that did not appreciate the outcome of a match that seemed like it could be the first win of the season but instead became a small psychodrama. Palladino’s first game on Bologna’s bench ends in a draw, 1-1 with goals from Bernardeschi and Kulenovic. However, the mistakes of Skorupski and De Silvestri, the veterans, weigh heavily, leading to the equalizer for the Granata.
Palladino’s choices
No tactical surprises for Palladino’s debut on the bench with the Campanian coach immediately switching to three at the back, with Helland, Heggem, and Theate. In midfield, Miranda and Zortea flank Ferguson and Pobega. The offensive block is confirmed.
First half
Imprecise start for the Rossoblù who try to create something by exploiting Piccoli’s physicality but often find themselves defending, with some defensive lapses. Toro takes advantage, although never too dangerous, they often appear in Bologna’s half. The Granata thus try to control the game building from the back and trying to bypass Palladino’s midfield.
At the 13th minute, however, Bologna scores on their first real action: Skorupski plays long to Piccoli who looks for a layoff, Toro recovers with Fortini but Cambiaghi forcefully takes the ball and starts a run, passing to Miranda who crosses, Ismajli flicks the ball with his head to anticipate Piccoli again but the ball reaches the center area to Bernardeschi who controls and places a low shot that even passes between Coco’s legs.
The visitors’ reaction comes at the 17th minute from a free kick at the edge of the area, with Mandragora sending the ball well over the crossbar.
Palladino’s team leads 1-0. It’s the first time this season that Bologna takes the lead. At the 21st minute, the Rossoblù try again, a quick throw-in from Miranda from the left third, ball to Pobega free on the side of the small area but the midfielder’s shot is wide. Toro shows up forward with an action at the 33rd minute with Cacciamani putting in a dangerous ball but the defense clears, Cambiaghi then tries to switch the play, exploiting another Fortini hesitation, ball again to Miranda who this time delivers a poor cross and the ball goes over the crossbar.
The Granata are imprecise and Mandragora loses a dangerous ball at the edge, Pobega recovers but is slow to shoot and is blocked by Fitz-Jim.
The Rossoblù defense remains imprecise, with a mistake from Helland who loses the ball on the short side leading to a dangerous free kick, Heggem clears and then on the counter-cross Skorupski punches the ball away again but the Granata stay forward creating some concern for the defense.
Cacciamani the most dangerous who even near the end goes away quickly on Zortea, dangerous ball, with Theate providential in a sliding tackle to clear the ball passed to the edge for a potential shot. After 3 minutes of added time, the teams go to the locker rooms without further thrills and Bologna in the lead.
Second half
No changes at the restart for Palladino, with Abate instead recalling a struggling Fortini to bring in Patterson. Torino starts strong immediately, pouring into Bologna’s half with a series of corners and a half-height free kick from Mandragora, stretched out and saved by Skorupski.
Bologna looks for fortune forward on the counterattack after a defensive recovery, with Piccoli carrying the ball for 60 meters then passing to Miranda who tries a one-two in the area asking too much from the striker.
At the 56th minute, a nice recovery from the Spaniard who then crosses low for Berna who controls in two touches and tries a volley shot, blocked for a corner. From the corner, another chance for number 10 who this time shoots high. Palladino starts making some changes, De Silvestri and Odgaard in, Helland and Cambiaghi out.
The Rossoblù now struggle to keep the ball, with the visitors not finding the right way. At the 63rd minute, Bologna shows up again forward, throw-in from Zortea for Bernardeschi who lays off to Piccoli, ball control and cross to the far post where Miranda, jumping, sends it over the crossbar. It’s always Palladino’s number 10 trying to ignite the spark, like a few minutes later when from the third of the field he finds Odgaard alone on the left side, but the Dane is slow and his cross is off target.
At the 66th minute it’s again him who is very dangerous: Piccoli goes away very well with his body from Ismajli, ball in depth for Miranda who crosses in, the striker stretches but only mishits, the ball reaches Berna who dribbles and cuts inside, curling shot on the far post just over by a little more than a meter. At the 75th minute, another round of changes for Palladino, Bernardeschi, exhausted, out for Orsolini and then Pobega for Moro. Toro, however, finds an unexpected equalizer, once again due to a blunder by Skorupski: De Silvestri misses the interception, Kulenovic carries the ball to the edge and then lays off a low shot to the far post, the Polish keeper stretches too slowly. Ball in the net and 1-1 at Dall’Ara. Hands on heads for the two veterans who comment on two costly errors.
At the 83rd minute Bologna risks again, with a ball in depth for Oristanio who, launched towards the area, cuts inside, risky challenge by Heggem, with Guida not seeing any foul. The game heads towards the end, with 5 minutes of extra time decided by Guida. In full recovery, Piccoli makes himself dangerous with a nice shot from the edge that goes high over the crossbar. It’s the last thrill of the game, at Dall’Ara it ends 1-1 amid whistles and grumbles from the crowd. The players then went under the curve at the end of the game, with some fans continuing to sing during the brief confrontation.
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