Ligurian advantage with Manaj, then the Austrian completes the comeback with a brace: Mihajlovic returns to victory after two months
The last match of the 26th matchday of Serie A sees Bologna overturn La Spezia 2-1 at Dall’Ara. Thiago Motta’s team took the lead in the 11th minute with a header from Manaj, but Arnautovic crossed the 1-1 goal in the 42nd minute with his left foot. A couple of chances for Orsolini in the second half, before the Austrian striker himself scored 6 minutes from time. Mihajlovic celebrates for the first time in 2022.
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THE MATCH
From La Spezia to La Spezia. Marko Arnautovic did not score from the first leg match at the Peak of November 28, won 1-0 by Bologna. Tonight he even scored a brace that allows Mihajlovic’s team to draw their first success in 2022 after the last five dry rounds (last victory against Sassuolo last December 22). Good start for the Ligurians at Dall’Ara: at 4 ‘Verde drunk Theate with his feints and kicks with the left, but Skorupski flies and rejects. Arnautovic hits a sensational crossbar with a missile from outside the area, but it is then the host formation that breaks the deadlock in the 11th minute: Reca reaches the bottom and draws a beautiful trajectory in the center of the area, Manaj takes the time to Binks and Theate and takes off with his head, putting the ball behind Skorupski. However, Arnautovic is still very active on the opposite front: a nice play by the Austrian, who served in the area by Soriano kicks quickly without even looking at the goal, finding the parade of Provedel. The latter is repeated shortly after also on Barrow.
The Emilians, however, are in the game and grab the 1-1 at 40 ‘: excellent movement in depth by Arnautovic, at the suggestion of Barrow, and a precision touch on the far post with his left. At the beginning of the second half Orsolini strokes the outside of the net with a shot from outside the box. The same number 7, however, wastes the 2-1 all alone in front of Provedel in the 61st minute. Victory goal for Bologna, which in any case arrives in the 84th minute: Samson brushes a right cross into the area, Arnautovic is badly lost by Nikolaou and hits his head, winning the duel against Bastoni. Thiago Motta ends ko. The hosts extend to +5 on La Spezia and hook Empoli at 31 points.
REPORT CARDS
Arnautovic 7.5 – He breaks the crossbar with a spectacular left foot from outside, puts the chills on Provedel with a good play and then finds the brace that makes the rossoblùs enjoy after six days.
Orsolini 6 – He badly wastes two occasions, of which the second one above all has a sensational one: his performance is still convincing.
Theate 5.5 – He makes Manaj take the time clearly on the occasion of the 0-1 goal, after Green had already missed him at the start of the game.
Manaj 7 – After 11 minutes of good Bologna, it is the Albanian striker who brings the La Spezia forward in the score: the stomp on Theate will however cost him the disqualification against Roma.
It bears 6.5 – His descent on the left is splendid, preceding the perfect cross by the Polish defender himself for the imperious detachment of Manaj.
Green 5.5 – Starts the match with a left that forces Skorupski to the first save of the challenge after a good personal initiative. But then he dies as the minutes pass.
THE TABLE
BOLOGNA-SPEZIA 2-1
Bologna (3-4-3): Skorupski 6; Theate 5,5, Binks 6 (26 ‘st Vignato 6), Bonifazi 6 (19’ st Soumaoro 6); Hickey 6, Schouten 6, Soriano 6, De Silvestri 6; Arnautovic 7.5, Barrow 6.5 (26 ‘st Molla 6), Orsolini 6 (42’ st Aebischer sv). Available: Bardi, Kasius, Dijks, Mbaye, Viola, Falcinelli, Sansone. All .: Mihajlovic 6.5
Spice (4-2-3-1): Provedel 6; It bears 6.5 (13 ‘st Sticks 6), Nikolaou 5.5, Erlic 5.5, Ferrer 6; Room 6 (34 ‘st Nguiamba sv), Kiwior 6; Green 5.5, Major 6 (20 ‘st Agudelo 5.5), Gyasi 6.5; Manaj 7 (34 ‘st Nzola sv). Available: Zoet, Zovko, Hristov, Bertola, Bourabia, Kovalenko, Colley, Antiste, Nzola. Coach: Thiago Motta 5.5
Referee: Marinelli
Markers: 11 ‘Manaj (S), Arnautovic 40’ (B), 39 ‘st Arnautovic (B)
Ammonites: Binks (B), Manaj (S)
THE STATISTICS
Bologna found their first Serie A success in 2022 after recording four defeats and one draw in their previous five games this year.
La Spezia are the third team against which Marko Arnautovic has found the goal in both the first leg and the return match in a single season between Serie A, Premier League and Bundesliga, after Aston Villa in 2015/16 and Hoffenheim in 2011/12.
First double in Serie A for Marko Arnautovic, the last multiple marking of the Austrian player in the top five Europeans dates back to the one he scored in May 2019 with the West Ham shirt against Southampton.
Since his Serie A debut in February 2018 Musa Barrow (20) is the youngest forward to have provided more than 10 assists in the top flight.
La Spezia has scored from nine consecutive Serie A matches, the Ligurians are the team that has hit the target for several consecutive matches among those currently present in the top league.
All of Rey Manaj’s five Serie A goals came from inside the penalty area, this was his first header.
Spezia have lost their last two Serie A games, as many defeats as those recorded in the previous nine games.
Tonight was Lukasz Skorupski’s 200th Serie A appearance.
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