Federico Bernardeschi emerged as Bologna's hero, converting a late penalty to seal a crucial 1-0 victory over Udinese at the Stadio Renato Dall'Ara.
The hard-fought Serie A clash on February 23, 2026, saw Bologna snap a challenging four-match losing streak. This vital win moved them to 10th place in the league standings, just ahead of their opponents.
Before kickoff, Bologna sat 11th, grappling with poor form. Udinese, in 10th, also sought consistency, having won only two of their last five fixtures. Both sides were desperate for points to climb away from the congested mid-table.
The first half unfolded as a tight affair, with neither team truly asserting dominance. Udinese made an early change, introducing N. Bertola for O. Solet in the 10th minute. Chances were at a premium, as both defenses held firm.
Despite Udinese edging possession with 54%, they struggled to create clear-cut opportunities. Bologna, with 46% possession, managed more shots on goal. However, Udinese goalkeeper Maduka Okoye was vigilant, making four key saves to keep the scoreline goalless.
As the teams headed into the break, a tactical shift was clearly needed. Bologna required more attacking impetus, while Udinese needed to turn their possession into genuine threats on Łukasz Skorupski's goal.
Bologna's manager responded with a triple substitution just before the hour mark, bringing on T. Pobega, J. Rowe, and notably, Federico Bernardeschi, who replaced Riccardo Orsolini in the 56th minute. These changes immediately injected fresh energy into the home side's play.
The game's intensity escalated, marked by a yellow card for Udinese's A. Buksa in the 62nd minute for unsportsmanlike conduct. Just six minutes later, Bologna's J. Miranda also picked up a booking for a foul. Udinese then made another change, substituting Buksa off in the 71st minute.
The breakthrough arrived in the 75th minute. Bernardeschi, having been on the pitch for less than 20 minutes, stepped up to coolly dispatch a penalty, sending the home crowd into raptures. The goal proved to be the decisive moment, rewarding Bologna's persistent pressure.
Udinese pressed for an equalizer, making two more substitutions in the 80th minute. However, Bologna's defense, marshaled effectively by Jhon Lucumí and Remo Freuler, held firm. Freuler particularly shone, making an impressive nine tackles throughout the match.
Bologna concluded the match with 11 total shots, six of which tested the keeper, accumulating an xG of 1.27. Udinese managed eight shots, with only two on target, resulting in an xG of 0.56. Bologna's defensive resilience was evident as they limited Udinese's attacking threat.
