Bologna stunned Napoli with a dramatic 3-2 comeback victory at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, with Jonathan Rowe's stoppage-time goal securing an unlikely away win that keeps the visitors' European hopes alive.
Napoli entered this Serie A clash sitting second in the table with 70 points from 35 matches. Bologna arrived in tenth place with 49 points, desperate to climb higher in the final weeks of the season. The hosts dominated possession and early chances, but the visitors proved clinical when it mattered most.
Federico Bernardeschi gave Bologna the perfect start in the 10th minute, striking early to put the away side ahead. Napoli responded well to the setback, controlling the tempo and creating opportunities. However, Bologna extended their lead from the penalty spot in the 34th minute when Riccardo Orsolini converted from 12 yards.
Napoli pulled one back before half-time through Giovanni Di Lorenzo's goal in the 45th minute, setting up an intriguing second half. The hosts needed to find another gear to get back into the contest. They carried momentum into the break, knowing they had chances to equalize.
Just three minutes after the restart, Alisson Santos leveled the match for Napoli in the 48th minute with a clinical finish. The home side suddenly looked energized, with the crowd behind them. The momentum had shifted decisively in Napoli's favor as Bologna retreated.
Napoli pressed for a winner throughout the second half, creating chances but struggling to find the breakthrough. Bologna defended deep and looked for opportunities on the counter-attack. The visitors absorbed pressure expertly despite being down to ten effective players after accumulated bookings.
The match hung in the balance as it entered the final moments. Bologna's substitutes changed the dynamic late on. In the 90th minute plus one, Jonathan Rowe fired home the decisive third goal for Bologna, sparking wild celebrations among the traveling fans.
The statistics told a story of Napoli's dominance without reward. The hosts registered 14 total shots to Bologna's 10, with 5 on target compared to the visitors' 4. Napoli enjoyed 52 percent possession and created an expected goals value of 0.73, while Bologna's xG stood at 1.32.
Alisson Santos earned the match's highest rating of 8.2 for his all-action performance. Bernardeschi contributed 7.6 despite being substituted, while Orsolini's penalty conversion proved decisive at 7.2. Rowe's impact off the bench demonstrated the value of Bologna's attacking options.
This result reshapes the final weeks of the Serie A season significantly. Napoli remain second but face questions about their finishing. Bologna's victory moves them closer to the European qualification spots, giving them genuine momentum heading into their remaining fixtures.
