After a changeable first half and a rather quiet second, Inter Milan and Bologna FC drew 2-2. The draw means that both teams have made little progress.
FC Internationale needed three points in the postponed game to stay in the lead of the table, while the Rossoblu needed a win to keep their eyes on the international business.
Back and forth in the first half
It was a first half in two acts, which, contrary to expectations, began with the guests from Bologna dominating. The Italian team started well and put Inter under pressure in their own half. Moro’s shot hit the post but was saved by Sommer (9). Shortly afterwards, however, the ball went into the net: Castro cheekily diverted Moro’s long-range shot into the right corner, against the direction of the Swiss keeper’s run. It was a well-deserved 1-0.
But the wind promptly changed, Inter woke up – and only four minutes later, they equalized through their first clean attack, with Dumfries sliding the ball into the net after a Dimarco rebound. From that moment on, it was only the home side who played: Dumfries (24′), Dimarco (25′) and, in particular, Lautaro Martinez (27′, 31′, 31′) gave the visitors’ back line no respite – but each time they had a good chance to take the lead, they missed. Shortly before half-time, Martinez was rewarded for his industrious performance: at the end of a counterattack, the Argentinean world champion was in the right place at the right time to give his side a 2-1 lead at half-time (45+1).
Holm secures a point for Bologna
While the first half swung between two extremes, the second half suddenly offered a much calmer game between evenly matched sides. There were few big chances on either side, which played into the hands of the home side in particular. But the fact that Dimarco (55′) and Martinez (61′) then missed quite promising opportunities would quickly backfire: Orlsolini kept his cool in the box and passed to Holm, who left Sommer with no chance with his first-time shot (64′).
So the question on both sides was: offensive battle in the final phase or risk minimization to at least secure the one point? The answer lay somewhere in between: the Rossoblu were a little more active, but just like the Nerazzurri, the guests did not want to take the last risk and preferred to hope for counterattacks. However, neither Inter nor Bologna were able to capitalize on these, and so the game ended 2-2 after 90 minutes.
Due to the draw, Inter Milan can no longer overtake SSC Naples in terms of points, but can only draw with a win in the second postponed game. The guests remain within striking distance of the international places.