Bologna has achieved a great victory in Serie A. I Rossoblù were too strong for AS Roma in their own Stadio Renato Dall'Ara with 2-0. Sam Beukema and Joshua Zirkzee were of great value to Bologna with good preparatory work for the goals. José Mourinho made a painful substitution after the break. Renato Sanches, who came on at the start of the second half, was taken off just twenty minutes later. Sanches' face spoke volumes. Number four Bologna now has three points more than Roma, which is seventh.

On the Bologna side, Beukema played in the center back next to Riccardo Calafiori. Zirkzee was at the point of the attack and was supported at his back by Lewis Ferguson, among others. Sydney van Hooijdonk was on the bench. Romelu Lukaku was missing at Roma due to a suspension. The Belgian was replaced by Andrea Belotti. Paulo Dybala had to look on injured, while Rick Karsdorp sat on the bench. Belotti had to score the goals together with Stephan El Shaarawy.

In the first part of the match, both teams tried to create danger mainly through crosses from the sides. For example, former Ajax player Rasmus Kristensen was frequently played by his Roma teammates, without result. Bologna reported several times around Roma's sixteen, but the home team was also unable to do much with it.

After half an hour of play, the first big chance of the match was a fact. A great cross from Kristensen was just as well headed to the short corner by Belotti, but goalkeeper Federico Ravaglia was there just in time to tap the ball out of the corner.

Bologna scored the first big chance. Beukema started the attack with a sharp pass between the lines, allowing Remo Freuler to see plenty of space in front of him. The Swiss reached Dan Ndoye on the right side of the box and pulled sharply back towards the box. Nikola Moro appeared there and outwitted Rui Patrício.

On the other hand, Belotti got another golden opportunity. He had a free shooting opportunity on the left side of the box. However, with his left he shot into Ravaglia, who thus prevented a quick setback for Bologna. Zirkzee showed up just before half-time with some nice actions in the box, although his shot did not get past a defender.

At half-time, Mourinho decided to bring on Sanches for Leonardo Spinazzola. Four minutes later it was 2-0. Zirkzee kept the overview and found Ferguson on the right. A sharp cross from the Scot was headed in. Ndoye seemed the celebrated man, but Kristensen turned out to be unlucky by putting the ball into his own goal. In minute 63, Mourinho killed Sanches by replacing him with Edoardo Bove.

Ten minutes before the end, Belotti got his next big chance. This time he tried with his right, but he ran into Ravaglia's leg in an outlaw position. Still, the match was not yet decided. It looked like Jhon Lucumi was sent off for bringing down Sardar Azmoun, but the Iranian was in an offside position. The Colombian was therefore allowed to remain standing. Bologna held on and achieved a great victory.

Bologna ????????????????????? the lead ??
Zirkzee keeps a good overview and reaches Ferguson, who then shoots hard.

In the end it is Kristensen who hits the ball last ??#ZiggoSport #SerieA #BolognaRoma pic.twitter.com/Cjf6CZnBmz

— Ziggo Sport Voetbal (@ZS_Voetbal) December 17, 2023

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Renato Sanches himself can hardly believe it when, after barely fifteen minutes of coming on, his time is already up according to Mourinho ??#ZiggoSport #SerieA #BolognaRoma pic.twitter.com/4vOAi1TBeZ

— Ziggo Sport Voetbal (@ZS_Voetbal) December 17, 2023

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