Inter missed out on the top spot. Everything went according to plan in the catch-up game in Bologna before Arnautovic equalised and substitute keeper Radu made a crucial mistake in the closing stages.
The match between Bologna and Inter was supposed to have taken place on 6 January. A Corona outbreak at the home side with subsequent quarantine order had prevented this.
At their second attempt over three months later, the Nerazzurri now had the chance to overtake league leaders and city rivals Milan with a win – and coach Simone Inzaghi’s team, with Gosens and regular keeper Handanovic both absent due to injury, started correspondingly briskly.
Perisic sneaks into the lead
Inter pushed deep into Bologna’s half from the start and built up considerable pressure. After just three minutes, the pressure-packed play already paid off: Perisic snuck away from his opponents at a throw-in and welded the leather with his left foot full into the corner. Even after the lead, the visitors’ constant pressure did not diminish, but rarely did it become as dangerous as with Dimarco’s long-range shot and Lautaro Martinez’s attempted tap-in (9th).
Arnautovic with brains
There was no sign of Bologna around 12-goal man Arnautovic for almost half an hour, but then the Austrian international screwed his way into the second tier after a Barrow cross at the five-metre area and headed in from there for the equaliser (28.). Arnautovic almost managed a copy of the goal shortly before the break, but this time his timing was not right when he headed in (44th).
In the second half, Inter increased the tempo again. Dimarco tested keeper Skorupski several times from distance (49th, 53rd), Correa failed with a header (55th). The visitors had to watch out for the lurking Arnautovic again and again, but he could not assert himself on the few counterattack attempts.
Radu’s lapse
In the closing stages, the Nerazzurri attacks became increasingly desperate. Even with Dzeko and Alexis Sanchez on the pitch, the Bologna FC bulwark could not be broken – and it got even worse: After a throw-in, Handanovic’s substitute Radu made a bad lapse. The substitute keeper tried to pass the ball to the right to d’Ambrosio, but failed to hit the ball correctly. Substitute Sansone ran through and pushed the ball over the line for the 2-1 winner (81st).
The defeat means that Inter have only drawn level with league leaders Milan in terms of games played. The two city rivals are still separated by two points with four matchdays to go.
