Napoli missed a golden opportunity to move within touching distance of the Serie A summit as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Bologna at the Stadio Renato Dall’Ara on Monday night. Frank Anguissa’s first-half strike for Napoli was cancelled out by a sensational equaliser from Dan Ndoye, a result that saw Bologna leapfrog Juventus into the coveted UEFA Champions League spots.
The hosts, Bologna, were aiming for their seventh consecutive league victory, a feat they hadn’t achieved since 1964. However, it was Napoli who struck first in the 18th minute. Anguissa latched onto a long ball just inside the Bologna half, displaying impressive strength and skill to outmanoeuvre Sam Beukema before calmly rounding goalkeeper ?ukasz Skorupski to slot home a well-taken individual goal.
Unfortunately for Bologna, their goalkeeper Skorupski was forced off with an injury moments after conceding, replaced by Federico Ravaglia. Ravaglia was quickly called into action, pushing a Scott McTominay shot around the post and then making a crucial save at the feet of Matteo Politano to keep Bologna in the game.
Despite their attacking prowess which saw them thrash Lazio 5-0 in their previous home fixture, Napoli struggled to replicate that form. Their only shot on target in the first half besides the goal was a tame header from Jens Odgaard which was easily saved by Napoli keeper Simone Scuffet. Bologna’s Michel Aebischer also went close, his whipped effort flying just wide in first-half stoppage time.
Bologna showed more attacking intent after the break, with Thijs Dallinga forcing Scuffet into another save, and Riccardo Orsolini curling a dangerous left-footed shot just over the bar. Their persistence paid off in spectacular fashion when they found the equaliser in the 68th minute. Odgaard cut back a cross to the lively Ndoye at the near post, and the Swiss international, with his back to goal, somehow flicked the ball home with an audacious effort that bounced in off the crossbar.
Remarkably, given that no team has salvaged more points from losing positions in Serie A this season than Bologna, they responded well to going behind. What was surprising was Napoli’s lack of effectiveness in the second half, as they struggled to get out of their own half for significant periods.
Napoli were left hanging on towards the end as Scuffet pushed Juan Miranda�s dipping free-kick over the bar. Bologna substitute Santiago Castro then missed a golden opportunity to snatch a late winner in the 90th minute, unbelievably skewing a rebound wide from mere inches out after Emil Holm’s initial header was brilliantly saved by Scuffet.
The 1-1 draw means Bologna are now on course to achieve back-to-back Champions League qualifications for the first time in their history, a significant achievement considering they have only won three of their last 19 encounters against Napoli. For Napoli, who had a last-gasp Giacomo Raspadori strike superbly saved after deflecting off Math�as Olivera, this result leaves them winless in their last five away matches and a missed opportunity to close the gap at the top of Serie A.
