Inter turned a difficult evening at the Renato Dall’Ara into a 3-1 victory over Bologna, recovering from an early setback to leave Matchday 7 with a result that underlined their authority across the long Serie A season.
Bologna struck first through Tommaso Pobega in the 10th minute, but Inter stayed composed after a lively home start. Marcus Thuram brought the sides level shortly before the interval, before Carlos Augusto and Ange-Yoan Bonny settled the contest in the second half.
Early Bologna lead meets an Inter response
The hosts began with purpose and were rewarded when Juan Miranda supplied Pobega, who finished low into the left corner from inside the area. Bologna had already tested Inter through Federico Bernardeschi, while Nadir Zortea also forced a save after the opening goal.
Inter gradually found their way into the game. Nicolò Barella, Federico Dimarco and Luis Henrique all had attempts, while Thuram missed a close-range opportunity from a Dimarco delivery.
Bologna remained threatening. Nicolò Cambiaghi went close after a break forward, and Pobega later struck the crossbar from a corner before sending another effort narrowly wide. The home side also created two chances in first-half stoppage time, with Zortea denied and Jay Enem unable to direct a close-range attempt on target.
Inter nevertheless reached half-time level. In the 44th minute, Barella curled a cross into the area and Thuram headed into the top-left corner to make it 1-1.
Changes shift the second half
Bologna were forced into an early alteration when Roberto Piccoli left injured after half an hour, with Jay Enem taking his place. Arthur Theate was later replaced by Eivind Helland, while Nikola Moro and Artem Dovbyk came on for Pobega and Cambiaghi in the 76th minute.
Inter introduced Ange-Yoan Bonny for Francesco Pio Esposito before bringing on Andy Diouf and Carlos Augusto in the 69th minute. The latter made an immediate impact.
Piotr Zielinski provided the assist as Carlos Augusto scored from close range to put Inter ahead. Bologna had a chance to answer when Bernardeschi’s effort from outside the area was saved, but Inter increasingly controlled the decisive moments.
Petar Sucic hit the left post in the 76th minute, while Bonny was denied after Barella had sent him through. The forward eventually got his goal seven minutes from time, converting Carlos Augusto’s pass from the centre of the box to complete the 3-1 scoreline.
Inter manage the closing stages
Inter used their late substitutions to see out the result, with Henrikh Mkhitaryan replacing Thuram and Hakan Çalhanoglu coming on for Zielinski in the 79th minute.
The contest carried its share of discipline. Theate, Esposito, Pobega, Thuram, Juan Miranda, Bernardeschi and Carlos Augusto were booked. Miranda required treatment after an injury, while several late offside decisions interrupted the closing minutes.
Bologna had shown enough in the first half to suggest they could trouble one of the division’s major contenders, particularly through Pobega, Bernardeschi and their set-piece pressure. But Inter’s response was shaped by the influence of Barella, the finishing of Thuram and Bonny, and Carlos Augusto’s decisive contribution after his introduction.
At the final whistle, Bologna were left with an early lead that had not lasted, while Inter departed Emilia-Romagna with three goals, three points and another important step in the early championship race.
