Jens Odgaard's late heroics delivered Bologna a crucial 1-0 away victory against Pisa. The substitute's 90th-minute goal secured all three points at the Arena Garibaldi in a dramatic Serie A encounter.
This Serie A fixture pitted relegation-threatened Pisa against a Bologna side pushing for European qualification. Pisa, sitting 19th in the league with just 15 points, desperately sought to improve their form of LLDLL. Meanwhile, 9th-placed Bologna, coming off recent wins, aimed to build on their 36 points and solidify their top-half position.
Bologna began the match asserting control, immediately dominating possession and dictating the tempo. They aimed to break down Pisa's compact defensive setup early. Pisa, however, showed resilience, working hard to deny space and frustrate their visitors.
An early tactical adjustment saw Bologna forced into a change as M. Vitik replaced Nicolò Casale in the 21st minute. Despite Bologna's significant ball retention, creating genuine goal-scoring opportunities proved challenging. Pisa's disciplined backline stood firm.
The first half progressed with Bologna largely controlling the midfield battle, but without penetration. Pisa, meanwhile, struggled to transition quickly into attack, often losing possession. The half-time whistle blew with the score still locked at 0-0, reflecting a cagey opening period where neither goalkeeper was truly tested.
Both teams returned for the second half needing more attacking impetus. Pisa aimed to leverage their home support and create more chances. Bologna, in turn, sought to convert their possession dominance into a decisive breakthrough against a stubborn opponent.
The game’s intensity visibly increased, leading to the first card of the match. Remo Freuler received a yellow card for Bologna in the 53rd minute for a strong challenge. A series of substitutions soon followed as both benches looked to inject fresh energy. Samuele Angori and Roko Durosinmi came on for Pisa in the 63rd minute, with Federico Bernardeschi and Silvan Sohm joining for Bologna moments later.
Pisa continued to shuffle their pack in the 70th minute, introducing Mathias Hojholt and Arturo Calabresi to bolster their midfield and defence. Bologna countered by bringing on João Mário and Nicolò Cambiaghi in the 74th minute, hoping to unlock the Pisa defence. The visitors' frustration was evident when Jhon Lucumí picked up a yellow card for unsportsmanlike conduct in the 82nd minute.
Just as the match appeared destined for a goalless draw, Bologna found their moment of brilliance. In the 90th minute, substitute Jens Odgaard made a decisive run. He expertly slotted home after receiving a precise assist from Remo Freuler, securing a dramatic late winner for Bologna and leaving Pisa heartbroken.
Bologna’s statistics reflected their control, finishing with 60% ball possession and an expected goals (xG) of 0.61. Pisa, despite a lower 40% possession and 0.46 xG, managed 3 shots on target from 6 total attempts, all saved by Lukasz Skorupski. Bologna’s solitary shot on target from 8 total attempts proved to be the match-winner.
This hard-fought victory propels Bologna to 39 points, strengthening their push for a European qualification spot in Serie A. For Pisa, the agonizing last-minute defeat deepens their relegation worries, as they remain in a precarious 19th position with only 15 points, facing a tough fight for survival.
