Bologna and Inter served up a thrilling six-goal spectacle at Stadio Renato Dall'Ara, sharing the spoils in a 3-3 draw that saw the league leaders stumble in their pursuit of the title.
Inter arrived in Bologna sitting atop Serie A with 86 points from 37 matches. The Nerazzurri's dominance this season made them heavy favorites against eighth-place Bologna, who held 55 points. Both teams needed a result for different reasons: Inter to maintain their title charge, Bologna to secure European football.
The match exploded into life early. Federico Dimarco opened the scoring for Inter in the 22nd minute, giving the visitors a dream start. Bologna responded immediately through Federico Bernardeschi just three minutes later, leveling the contest at 1-1 and energizing the home crowd.
Tommaso Pobega then put Bologna ahead in the 42nd minute, sending the hosts into halftime with a 2-1 advantage. Inter's defense looked vulnerable, and the league leaders faced an uphill battle heading into the second period.
The second half began with chaos. Piotr Zielinski scored an own-goal in the 48th minute, extending Bologna's lead to 3-1. Inter's backline was struggling badly, and Bologna appeared destined for a major upset.
However, Inter showed their champions' character. Filippo Esposito pulled one back in the 64th minute, making it 3-2 and reigniting Inter's comeback hopes. The visitors pressed forward relentlessly, searching for an equalizer.
Lautaro Martínez received a yellow card in the 41st minute for his frustration. Henrikh Mkhitaryan also picked up a booking in the 77th minute as tensions rose during the heated contest.
Abdoulaye Diouf sealed the dramatic draw in the 86th minute, firing home to make it 3-3. The goal capped an incredible second-half turnaround from Inter, who rescued a point from a losing position.
Both teams created chances throughout but lacked precision in the final third. The match showcased attacking flair from both sides, though defensive lapses proved costly for both.
The draw leaves Inter on 87 points with one match remaining. Bologna stays eighth with 55 points but picks up a valuable point in their European battle. Inter's stumble hands rivals hope in the title race.
This result demonstrates that even league leaders can be vulnerable. Inter's defensive frailties exposed by Bologna offer encouragement to their remaining competitors.
