Bologna took on AC Chievo Verona in a Seire A relegation six-pointer tonight, looking to ease their relegation fears with a third successive league win.
Both sides showed a lack of confidence in a tentative opening, with neither team able to muster a shot on target in a tight first period.
Bologna pressed the action towards the closing stages but were frustrated in their bid to break the deadlock, with Rolando Bianchi spurning their best opening in stoppage time.
Look back at a battling Chievo display which halted a run of six defeats in a row with Sports Mole's minute-by-minute text commentary below.
Evening Calcio fans. Round 11 from Serie A concludes tonight with arguably the most important fixture of the bunch, with Bologna and Chievo both desperate for points as our attention turns to the fight against the drop at the Renato Dall'Ara.
Bologna have finally got their season back on a positive note in the last fortnight, quickly winning back-to-back matches after taking just three points from their first eight league games. That wretched run and put Rossoblu coach Stefano Piolo under intense pressure, a position which has eased somewhat ahead of tonight's crunch clash.
Pioli's men managed to follow up a narrow 1-0 win at Livorno with their best performance of the season by quite some distance in midweek, scoring three times without reply to beat Cagliari away from home. Maximum points from those two games has lifted Bologna just above the relegation zone, as they aim for a third win on the spin this evening. A run like that seemed unthinkable two weeks ago, particularly given Bologna's awful defensive record, with 22 goals conceded in 10 games.
Chievo meanwhile could only dream of back-to-back wins after a thoroughly disappointing run of results, with last week's 1-0 defeat to Roma their sixth successive loss in Serie A. Giuseppe Sannino's men did some much needed fight at the Stadio Olimpico though, a positive they must try and build upon in Northern Italy tonight.
A lack of goals will be Sannino's primary concern tonight, particularly on the road. Chievo have netted just once in five away games, with no player managing to score more than a single goal in Serie A so far this season. You feel that statistic must change for Sannino to keep his job, especially with the Verona derby looming large this weekend.
BREAKING TEAM NEWS! We have just received word on the starting XIs from Bologna and Piolo has decided to change a winning team, with talisman Alessandro Diamanti restored after serving a one-match ban. A full look at both lineups will follow in just a few moments.
BOLOGNA: Curci; Sorensen, Krhin, Antonsson; Garics, Kone, Pazienza, Laxalt, Morleo; Diamanti; Cristaldo
CHIEVO: Puggioni; Frey, Dainelli, Cesar; Sardo, Radovanovic, Rigoni, Bentivoglio, Estigarribia; Thereau, Paloschi
Diamanti's return is no surprise from Pioli, who has built his frustratingly inconsistent team around a player capable of the sublime and ridiculous on his day. Andrea Mantovani and Cesare Natali are both out injured so there is a reshuffle in defence, with Rene Krhin dropping deeper to plug a gap in a three-man backline.
Chievo meanwhile have Cyril Thereau back in attack, with means Sergio Pellissier drops to the bench. Bostjan Cesar is back from suspension and restored to central defence, while Marcelo Estigarribia is picked for pace and creativity from a wide position.
PREDICTION! With kickoff fast approaching there is just time for to hazard a guess at who will emerge victorious from what has all the makings of a tight relegation six-pointer. Bologna are the from team and I think that combined with home advantage and Diamanti's return could be enough to get them off the line tonight, with Cristaldo scoring in a 2-1 win.
We are running slightly behind schedule at what looks to be a cold and drizzly Dall'Ara, with both teams still yet to join us on the pitch. Hopefully the start of our feature match this evening is not too far away.
Better late than never Diamanti leads the hosts out, greeted by enough red and blue flares to help generate an atmosphere at a sparsely populated Dall'Ara. A reminder that the last time these two teams met Bologna emerged 4-0 winners, a prospect Sannino surely cannot afford this evening with his job looking precarious.
With smoke surrounding the pitch, kickoff is delayed by a further few minutes, before Bologna eventually get us underway shooting from left to right. A reminder that Chievo can leave the foot of the table with victory tonight, while Bologna are aiming for three wins on the spin. Plenty to play for, with the heavens opening up as Diamanti takes the centre.
Chievo get a chance to cross after winning a free kick inside the first minute, with Pamic brought down by Garics. The early cross is soon hooked behind for a corner kick, which leads to Sardo smashing wide after meeting a looping delivery from Estigarribia.
Back come Bologna in a fast start, with Diamati crunched to the floor by a challenge from Danielli. The Rossoblu skipper takes a while to get to his feet, with the referee playing advantage only for Cristaldo to be crowded out in the final third.
Diamanti is soon closed down again by two defenders and is clearly in for special treatment from the Chievo backline tonight. A positive start from both sides, with tackles flying in as Paloschi is just judged to be offside while chasing a long ball over the top.
Estigarribia shows pace to beat two defenders with a knock into space, but is eventually shut down by an important covering challenge from Antonsson. Just a sign that Bologna may be vulnerable on the counter there, playing high up the pitch and looking to press the action.
Sardo delivers an inviting cross from the right for Chievo, but despite having plenty of numbers forward the visitors fail to make contact with the delivery. It's been a fairly encouraging start for the Flying Donkeys, shading possession and territory in the early going.
Chievo are keeping the ball comfortably but not offering any penetration in the final third. Estigarribia has looked lively early on and finds space to send a curling cross towards the far post which evades Thereau, with the Frenchman caught on his heels not expecting a quality pass.
Bologna are dropping deeper and failing to keep the ball, with Diamanti showing some early frustration to concede a free kick after being closed down quickly in midfield.
Diego Laxalt attempts to get involved for the hosts but only succeeds in conceding a free kick. Soon after Bologna send a long ball towards the corner flag, which Cristaldo chases down before losing out to Frey.
YELLOW CARD! Pazienza has rather harshly been cautioned for deliberate handball out wide, despite his fierce protests at being penalised for a first offence. That booking will mean a suspension for the midfielder, who will now miss Bologna's next match.
CHANCE! Bologna's first meaningful moment of the match and it should be of little surprise that Diamanti is involved. The skipper shifted onto his right foot and curled a cross towards the near post, which was flicked just wide of the target by Cristaldo. The striker looks ruefully at the direction of his header, knowing he had the time and space to do better from that range.
Estigarribia commits a cynical foul in central midfield and is rather fortunate to escape a booking. Soon after Cristaldo throws himself to the floor under minimal contact from Cesar, who soon tells the forward to get to his feet along with the referee. His dive proved enough to win a free kick though, which Diamanti floats harmlessly over a packed penalty area.
A slight delay in proceedings as smoke engulfs one end of the pitch after a flare is left off behind Chievo's goal, with Cristaldo winning a corner kick when play resumes. Diamanti trots across to take the corner but when his cross comes in Sorensen is penalised for pulling Cesar's shirt at the far post.
The rain has got quite heavy and neither team has managed to lift the gloom surrounding the D'All Ara, as Diamanti concedes a free kick in central midfield. Soon after Sardo and Morelo clash heads with a thud as they contest an aerial duel, forcing another break in play so that both men can receive treatment.
Both Morleo and Sardo are fine to continue as play resumes with Diamanti picking out Cristaldo on the left flank. He eventually works the pall out to Kone on the opposite wing as the Rossoblu win a corner kick.
A scrappy affair is halted once again as another unfortunate collision between Cesar and Garcis has both men on the floor. Diamanti is furious and believes that Cesar deliberately blocked off his marker with a shoulder charge, but the Chievo defender is definitely worse for wear and looks groggy as he gets up.
Cesar returns and his first job is to help defend a dangerous free kick, after Rigoni's late lunge on Pazienza just outside the penalty area. Frustration is looming large though as Diamanti's cross soon sees another foul awarded inside the box, with Garics judged to have pulled Frey's shirt as he attempted to run free at the far post.
Paloschi is just denied the chance to break clear down the left after appearing to nip ahead of Sorensen, with the offside flag raised on the far side. Estigarribia is the penalised for a foul, but a woeful chip towards the corner flag from the free kick trickles harmlessly out towards the touchline.
HALF TIME Bologna 0-0 Chievo
Well that was a half very short on quality, summing up why both sides find themselves at the wrong end of the table. Chievo have kept the ball wall to a certain extent but lacked any cutting edge, while Bologna have failed to make the most of set-piece opportunities throughout the first period.
Bologna look far too reliant on Diamanti for creative impetus, with the captain largely shut down by an effective Chievo gameplan. Chievo meanwhile have shown even less in the way of a spark in the final third, with Estigarribia perhaps the most likely to use his pace and unlock the home defence after the break.
BENCH WATCH! With both sides struggling expect Pilo and Sannino to both consider changes at the break. Bologna have Rolando Bianchi and Jose Angel Crespo waiting in the wings if they decide to make a positive swap at the interval, while Chievo will most likely look to either Alessio Setsu or veteran striker Sergio Pellissier for a much-needed winner late on.
You feel that one moment of quality will be enough to settle this match, so which side look most likely to break the deadlock? In truth neither, but in Diamanti Bologna have a player more than capable of producing one killer pass or strike from range, although he has been largely nullified so far tonight. If Bologna are to earn their third win a row he must perform better after the interval.
Both teams are back after what was surely a stern half-time team talk, with the rain easing just slightly. Hopefully that will aid an improved second half, as both teams look to ease their fight against the drop.
Chievo get us back underway and quickly spill the ball out of play on the far side, but recover possession as Radovanovic skies a low cross into the penalty area.
Much more like it from the visitors as Paloschi comes within inches of meeting a well-worked cross into the near post from Sardo. Thereau then takes a heavy knock as he fights to control the rebound, with Bologna just about able to scramble clear.
Thereau and Kone both fail to pick out a teammate with breaks at opposite ends within the space of 30 seconds, summing up a lack of composure on show tonight. Plenty of fight from Chievo though, who close down Diamanti as Pamic concedes a free kick by climbing all over the Rossoblu skipper.
Chievo clear Diamanti's latest free kick and quickly launch a break through Paloschi, with Thereau's cross towards the near post just knocked away by Krhin. A vital interception from the makeshift defender, who probably stopped Paloschi turning home with a tap-in.
SUBSTITUTION: Bologna decide to make a change in midfield as Uruguay midfielder Perez is replaced by Pazienza, with Pioli searching for more energy and effort in central midfield.
Kone is starting to get involved as he controls a diagonal pass in the penalty area with aplomb, before shanking a wayward drive well beyond Puggioni's far post. Both goalkeepers have still been reduced to the role of passengers as we head towards the hour mark in this basement battle.
Perez and Laxalt combine to win back possession in midfield for Bologna, with Chievo just starting to drop deeper and perhaps show the lack of confidence six defeats on the spin will bring. Cristaldo then lets fly from range and forces Puggioni to make a routine save. Hooray, our first shot on target of the night. Things can only get better.
Radovanovic is very fortunate not to be cautioned after leaving his studs on Laxalt's ankle in a late lunge. From the free kick Diamanti swings a poor cross over the far post, getting too much on a delivery which Sorensen has to strain to head wide from a tight angle.
YELLOW CARD! Cesar finally gets a caution, for persistent fouling more than anything else, after coming through the back of Diamanti with a rash challenge. He is soon confronted by an angry Cristaldo, who is forced away by the referee. Diamanti takes his time to return and looks unhappy with the rough treatment he has received tonight.
Cristaldo is furious with the referee after not winning a free kick despite being hauled to the ground by Danielli. Soon after Chievo make their first change of the night, swapping Thereau for impact substitute Acosty. Can he make the difference as we head towards the closing stages still goalless?
SUBSTITUTION: Bologna soon respond in kind with a change of their own, as Moscardelli comes on to face his former club. The full-bearded forward takes the place of Laxalt, who was starved of service tonight in an advanced wide role.
Estigarribia and Acosty exchange a neat pair of passes in central midfield, but as the Paraguay winger advances he fails to spot Paloschi coming short and asking for a pass to feet. Chievo have lacked a cutting edge all night and that shows no sign of changing at the moment.
SHOT! Morelo wins a dangerous free kick just yards wide of the penalty area, but once again Diamanti is wasteful, drilling a free kick into the six-yard box in the hope of a deflection towards goal. Chievo clear but only as far as Mocardelli, who cuts inside to force a strong save from Puggioni with a strike from range. The best effort of the night by some distance!
SUBSTITUTION: Bologna send on another striker in search of a late breakthrough, as Cristaldo is replaced by Rolando Bianchi. Bologna have around eight minutes plus stoppage time to earn a third successive win.
A dynamic run from Acosty leaves Sorensen for dead, driving to the byline inside the penalty area. The youngster has Paloschi begging for a pass but elects to shoot from a tight angle, with Curci able to parry his powerful effort aimed towards the near post. Finally some signs of life at both ends!
SUBSTITUTION: The visitors make a like-for-like change at the back for fresh legs in the final few minutes, with Pamic replaced by Papp as we head quickly towards stoppage time. Chievo would definitely take a point at this stage.
Paloschi is just caught offside as he attempts to meet a reverse pass from Frey, with Bologna breaking to hammer a speculative long ball towards Bianchi at the other end. Perez and Diamanti then fail to pick up the pieces, with Curci close to catching outside his own area as Chievo also decide to hammer forward.
SUBSTITUTION: Just time for one final Chievo change as we head towards stoppage time, with Sestu taking Estigarribia's place for the few remaining moments. We will have four additional minutes.
CHANCE! Bianchi could have just won the match for Bologna after lashing wide of the near post. The forward is put through by a terrific diagonal pass from Perez, controlling before smashing towards goal with the outside of his right foot. His effort is well struck but misses the target, he really had to test Puggioni from there.
The home fans let out groans of frustration as Bianchi fouls his marker after a long pass forward, with Chievo winning a late free kick as Perez is booked for an untidy lunge on Rigoni. He will now be suspended for their next match, a ban which will surely infuriate Pioli.
FULL TIME Bologna 0-0 Chievo
A frankly forgettable effort from both sides tonight then in Bologna, but Chievo can at least take heart from halting a run of six successive defeats. That defeat is not enough to take them off the foot of Serie A though, with five points from 11 games the worst record in Italy.
That will just about do it for out coverage from Serie A this weekend, but be sure to stick with Sports Mole as out attention turns to the Champions League over the next 48 hours. Goodnight!
