Fresh from booking their spot in the Coppa Italia semi-finals for the second consecutive year, the hosts looked to draw inspiration from their cup form, after three matches without a win in Serie A. However, it was Bologna who started on the front foot, with Joshua Zirkzee and Lewis Ferguson both denied by Pietro Terracciano early on. The visitors continued to press for a breakthrough, and duly opened the scoring from the spot, as Riccardo Orsolini tucked home following a careless handball from Antonin Barak.
Undeterred by the early setback, Fiorentina responded with an equaliser just five minutes later, as Saponara diverted a scuffed effort from Nicolás González into the net from close range. With the scores level, both sides continued to create chances in a wide-open first half, as Terracciano stood firm to thwart Ferguson, while Saponara saw a brilliant bicycle-kick cannon against the bar at the other end.
Bologna emerged after the restart eager to regain control of the contest, and were rewarded within two minutes, as an inviting corner from Orsolini was headed home by Stefan Posch. Having recorded just seven points on the road all season, the Red and Blues searched for a decisive third going into the final half-hour, but Fiorentina remained a threat on the break, with González and Saponara both going close. With 10 minutes remaining, the hosts upped the ante in pursuit of a late leveller, but the Bologna rearguard held firm to take derby day bragging rights.
The result extends Bologna’s unbeaten run in the league to four matches, as they move five points clear of Fiorentina in 12th, who continue to struggle with just one win in their last seven Serie A outings.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Riccardo Orsolini (Bologna)
