To me, yesterday seemed like a good Bologna: certainly not at the top, but not even a bunch of drunk people who can’t stand up as some would have you believe.
After the efforts of the Super Cup, at the end of a very expensive first part of the season, the team still showed an important performance: lots of ball possession (58%), lots of shots (16 against 8), lots of pressing (PPDA 5.9 against 10.8). In short, the usual performance full of good intentions even if not very convincing in front of goal.
It certainly lacks a bit of brilliance and some inspiration from the usual suspects like Orsolini, Castro and Odgaard, but all in all the others do their job.
Zortea canceled out Laurienté, Vitik worked very well on Koné (anticipated several times well beyond midfield), and Lucumí, if he hadn’t made those two enormous errors, would have been to be applauded for marking Pinamonti, who is never an easy customer. Then Moro and Pobega, who held up very well against two important players like Matic and Thorstvedt: I remember that BFC’s starting midfield, or what one would have expected as such, had to be made up of Freuler, Ferguson and Odgaard: well, for various reasons these three gentlemen haven’t played together for a while.
Rather, it must be noted that it is a moment in which things are not going as they should in front of goal: Dallinga did his best to tie up the game (the action for Fabbian’s goal started from his header in midfield) and on the only real occasion he saw his shot blocked off the line by the opposing defenders; Immobile missed a check on an assist from Pobega on the opportunity he had at the end, something that a top-class striker like him shouldn’t allow; Castro and Odgaard didn’t have time to get into the heart of the game and find a space to hit the net.
Different signals from those who instead have to construct the shots: Rowe appeared very involved in the match, Orsolini (who fired blanks as can happen to anyone if they are not having a great day) was decisive in the 1-0 action, keeping alive a ball that seemed lost; Moro and Pobega tried unsuccessfully to find the opponent’s goal from distance, as did an always attacking Zortea. In short, in my opinion the volume of the rossoblù’s performance was sufficient, and I don’t agree with those who have already opened the fire of criticism.
Grosso’s regret at the end of the match for not having won then leaves the time he finds: remembering that he didn’t materialize on Lucumí’s two gifts and not remembering that he equalized by taking advantage of another gift like that of Ravaglia on the way out knows a little about those who analyze the match by looking at it sideways. Rather, the question to ask the Sassuolo coach would be how to exploit such a well-trained and technical squad, currently forced to play practically only on the counterattack (and not only against Bologna, which is currently his style of play): in my opinion, the neroverdi could afford to dribble a little more, with such potential.
Coming back to us, a new infinite cycle of matches will soon begin, to be precise 11 in 35 days until February 8, when the rossoblù will have a whole week to prepare for the next match, which is what teams that don’t qualify for the cups normally do: this detail should be taken into consideration every time the level of criticism rises. Otherwise it is fierce, as are the criticisms against our goalkeeper Ravaglia.
It’s incredible how short the fans’ memories are: don’t you remember any great performances like that of the good Skorupski? I do, at least half a dozen!
There is no prophet in the countrynever was a more correct sentence: after all, it is written in the Gospels, and among other things we are living in days in which the sacred writings are usually preached.
They say that our youth sector doesn’t produce interesting young people: if when one emerges you only count the successes and never the exploits, then everything is worth it.
Happy 2026 to those who love Bologna.
Tosco – Channel 88
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Photo: Alessandro Sabattin/Getty Images (Via Onefootball)
