In Bologna, Inter Milan answered a bruising European night with the kind of recovery that can shape a title race. Four days after losing 4-3 to Club Brugge in the Champions League, the Serie A champions came from behind to beat Bologna 3-1 at the Renato Dall’Ara and strengthen their place at the summit.
Inter were without leading scorer Lautaro Martínez and were caught cold inside 10 minutes. Juan Miranda won possession from Luis Henrique on the flank before Tommaso Pobega carried the move forward and drove a left-footed shot inside Josep Martínez’s near post.
Quick facts
- Bologna 1-3 Inter Milan at the Renato Dall’Ara.
- Tommaso Pobega put Bologna ahead in the 10th minute.
- Marcus Thuram levelled shortly before half-time.
- Carlos Augusto scored after coming on and later set up Ange-Yoan Bonny.
- Inter remain top of Serie A; Lazio can join them by winning at Juventus on Sunday.
Bologna had chances to widen the gap, with Pobega central to their best moments. One low effort drifted narrowly wide and another struck the crossbar as Inter struggled to turn possession into clear openings.
The visitors found their reply in the 44th minute. Nicolò Barella delivered from the right and Thuram guided a powerful header into the top corner, changing the mood before the interval.
There was still time for both sides to threaten again. Martínez denied Nadir Zortea, while Bologna goalkeeper Łukasz Skorupski made an outstanding stop from close range to keep out Francesco Pio Esposito’s header.
Inter controlled the second half more securely, tightening up after the first-half alarms even if clear chances initially remained limited. The decisive moment arrived in the 69th minute, shortly after Carlos Augusto had entered the match.
Piotr Zieliński received the ball on the right side of the penalty area and rolled it across goal, where the Brazilian arrived at the far post to finish. It was Carlos Augusto’s first touch of the game, and his influence would continue.
Inter kept pressing for a third. Petar Sučić missed an open goal after Skorupski had repelled Ange-Yoan Bonny, and Bonny then had another finish ruled out for offside.
The final goal came on the counter in the 83rd minute. Henrikh Mkhitaryan released Carlos Augusto into space, and the substitute supplied a precise low cross for Bonny to convert from close distance.
Carlos Augusto was named man of the match after his goal and assist. For Bologna, who had collected their first win of the season in the previous round, the defeat leaves them only one point above the relegation zone.
Inter’s lead could yet be matched on Sunday, when Lazio travel to Juventus. A Lazio victory would bring them level with the Nerazzurri at the top.
