Bologna 2-1 Monza: Bernardeschi penalty completes comeback

Bologna overturn Monza’s early lead

Bologna beat Monza 2-1 at Stadio Renato Dall’Ara, completing a comeback after Gustavo Varela put the visitors ahead with a penalty in the 6th minute. The result moved Bologna to 14 points from 10 games, while Monza remained on 7 points.

Monza’s opener made it 0-1, but Bologna restored parity in the 33rd minute. Tommaso Pobega finished a move assisted by Juan Miranda for 1-1, with Pobega later receiving a yellow card in the 23rd minute. Federico Bernardeschi then converted Bologna’s penalty in the 59th minute to make it 2-1, the score that held at full time.

Monza had an opportunity to respond when Patrick Cutrone missed a penalty in the 81st minute. The match also produced yellow cards for Ricardo Mangas, Lorenzo Lucchesi and Idrissa Toure for Monza, while Jens Odgaard, Nadir Zortea and Mikel Jesús Amondarain joined Pobega in Bologna’s disciplinary list. Neither side received a red card.

Bologna held the stronger share of play

Bologna had 60% possession and completed 369 accurate passes compared with Monza’s 226. They also led total shots 10-6 and shots inside the box 8-3. Monza nevertheless registered four shots on goal to Bologna’s five, while the expected-goals figures were relatively close at 2.1 to 1.8.

Miranda was the standout performer, earning a 7.7 rating after playing 90 minutes and providing one assist. Bologna went into the match ranked #11 with 11 points, four ahead of Monza’s 7. After the win, Bologna were level on points with two other teams, leaving their position provisional, while Monza were provisionally #16. Bologna entered with three wins in their previous nine; Monza had two wins in theirs.