Bologna-Udinese 1-1, Saelemaekers responds to Payero

BOLOGNA – Draw and balance between Bologna and Udinese, which did not go beyond 1-1 at the end of an intense and very physical match. Saelemaekers responded to the momentary advantage of the Friulians, signed at the end of the first half by Payero, with a free kick. One point each, which changes little for their respective goals, i.e. in terms of the Champions League for the Emilians, who were good at recovering from numerical inferiority, and for the fight for survival for the Friulians, unlucky due to a post hit late on by Davis. Initial phase of the match in which Bologna’s dribbling maneuver prevails over a wait-and-see Udinese. Thiago Motta’s team seeks numerical superiority up front, but the Juventus defense defuses all attempts well and will find the advantage with the first shot on target of the match: in the second of the three minutes of injury time in the first half the offensive sortie fueled first by Samardzic and then from Lucca it ends with Payero’s conclusion, who escapes the rossoblù defense and beats Skorupski. At the beginning of the second half Bologna restarted in a more aggressive manner, as well as in the 59th minute, thanks to the enveloping maneuver closed by Ndoye’s right-footed shot, which however was too weak and easy for Okoye. A little later, however, the episode that changes the match, with Udinese’s restart carried out by Samardzic, who is stopped with a foul by the already booked Beukema, with referee Sacchi sending off the Dutch defender. From here on Udinese gain more offensive weight but without managing to increase their advantage, with Bologna finding the opportunity to equalize in the 78th minute: a free kick from the left taken by Saelemaekers who raises the trajectory and deceives Okoye, who punctures the save and fails to block the former Milan player’s winning shot. The duel between Saelemaekers and the Juventus goalkeeper will be repeated, in the final minutes, with the Belgian who, starting from the right, moves towards the center and shoots, but finds the diving catch of Okoye. Cannavaro makes several offensive changes (his first from the first minute on a Serie A bench), who tries everything to win three points which he will come very close to, with Davis mocking Lucumì in the very last action of the match in the penalty area and with his left foot he hits the post, which effectively puts an end to the Friulians’ hopes and ends Dall’Ara’s match. – photo Image – . xi6/pdm/red 28-Apr-24 17:11