Bologna’s visit of Inter on Saturday has turned the goalkeeper’s position into one of Raffaele Palladino’s most delicate decisions. Lukasz Skorupski remains the established first choice and Massimo Pessina his deputy, but recent mistakes on both sides have left the coach weighing form, confidence and the work done during a three-week international break.
Key takeaways
- Palladino must decide whether Skorupski or Pessina will start against Inter.
- Pessina was selected at Lecce after Skorupski’s difficult displays against Atalanta and Torino.
- The young goalkeeper made a costly-looking error on Fatah’s goal at Lecce, although Bologna’s result was not damaged.
- Skorupski spent around 20 days under Palladino’s observation during the break, while Pessina returned from international duty with only six days available.
- Bologna had initially planned a different goalkeeping department for this season, with Skorupski expected to leave and Pessina likely to go out on loan.
A decision shaped by confidence
The issue was already pressing before the trip to Lecce, when Skorupski was enduring a difficult period. His errors had contributed to goals scored by Lazar Samardzic against Atalanta and Kulenovic against Torino, putting his place under scrutiny despite his status as Bologna’s senior goalkeeper.
Palladino then chose Pessina for Lecce, a selection that suggested he believed the younger keeper was in a better mental condition for the occasion. It was not a simple call: leaving out a regular starter always carries consequences, particularly when confidence is already fragile.
Yet Pessina’s afternoon did not settle the matter. He made a clear error for Fatah’s goal and had two further moments which could have proved damaging, even if Bologna escaped without those mistakes changing the final outcome. The coach is therefore not simply choosing between a first-choice goalkeeper and his replacement, but between two players seeking reassurance.
The weeks between matches may be decisive. Palladino had far more time to assess Skorupski, who was available through most of the 20-day break, than Pessina, who came back from national-team commitments only in the final six days. The staff’s judgement will concern their training level as well as their emotional readiness.
If Skorupski has shown signs of recovering from his recent dip, Bologna are likely to return to their established hierarchy against Inter. If the Polish goalkeeper has not yet convinced the staff that he is ready, Pessina could retain the shirt. Should that happen, it would be a vote of confidence rather than a permanent reversal; equally, a return to the bench for Pessina should not be read as punishment for Lecce.
Summer plans behind Bologna’s present problem
The uncertainty is also the consequence of an unsettled summer. Bologna’s initial intention was not for either Skorupski or Pessina to be playing a central role this season. Between May and July, the club considered selling Skorupski, while Pessina was expected to gain regular football on loan in Serie B.
Federico Ravaglia was meant to compete for the position with a new arrival. Wladimiro Falcone and Ivan Provedel were among the goalkeepers admired by the club as possible options.
That plan changed when Skorupski decided to remain in Bologna. Ravaglia then made clear that he did not want to serve as second choice, leading the club to keep Pessina instead. Financial considerations and squad-list requirements helped shape the final arrangement, but the underlying questions were never fully resolved.
Now, with Inter approaching, those summer compromises have become a live sporting issue. Palladino’s selection will say much about who has recovered most convincingly, but it will not remove the wider challenge Bologna created when their intended reshaping of the goalkeeping department was left incomplete.
