Inter Milan travelled to Serie A strugglers Bologna tonight, looking for three points that would have taken them above Napoli into the Champions League qualifying places.
Bologna went into the clash with just two wins from 12 league games but stunned the Nerrazzurri by breaking the deadlock early on, courtesy of a strike from Panagiotis Kone.
Walter Mazzarri's men pressed for an equaliser on a night full of frustration but eventually levelled though Jonathan's deflected drive, with Juan Jesus clipping the crossbar in stoppage time as the hosts held on.
Look back at a hard-fought point for Stefano Pioli's side with Sports Mole minute-by-minute text coverage below.
Evening Calcio fans. Thanks for joining Sports Mole as a packed weekend of Serie A continues with a clash between sides experiencing contrasting fortunes so far this season, as Bologna welcome Inter Milan to the Stadio Renato Dall'Ara.
Inter travel to Bologna tonight desperate to continue a promising start to the campaign, which has seen Walter Mazzarri quickly make his presence felt at the San Siro. The Nerazzurri look far more solid under the former Napoli tactician, building an experienced squad with genuine ambitions of returning to the Champions League next term.
Mazzarri's men are still unbeaten away from home this season, with three wins as many draws on the road including an eye-catching 3-0 success at Udinese before the international break. Inter could go level with third-placed Napoli on 28 points with victory tonight, surely all the incentive the Nerrazzzuri should need for a strong performance against the Rossoblu.
Bologna meanwhile have struggled more than most observers expected so far this season, winning just two of their first 12 games thanks largely to the second-worst defence in Serie A. Stefano Pioli desperately needs a swift change in fortunes to keep his job, although hosting Inter does provide the perfect opportunity to claim a notable scalp this evening.
The Rossoblu are hugely reliant on their creative talisman Alessandro Diamanti, if he fails to find top gear Bologna often end up on the losing side. Unfortunately for the hosts Diamanti has been far from his potent best early in the campaign, despite being the team's top scorer with three goals in 11 appearances.
TEAM NEWS! The starting XIs have been released at the Stadio Renato Dall'Ara, with Inter giving Hugo Campagnaro a recall in defence in their early major change. A full look at both lineups will follow in just a few moments.
BOLOGNA: Curci; Natali, Antonsson, Sorensen; Garics, Khrin, Perez, Koné, Morleo; Diamanti, Cristaldo
INTER: Handanovic; Campagnaro, Rolando, Juan Jesus; Jonathan, Taider, Cambiasso, Alvarez, Nagatomo; Guarin; Palacio
Campagnaro replacing Andrea Ranocchia is Inter's only change from the side which beat Livorno before the international break. Rodrigo Palacio will lead the line supported by Ricky Alvarez and Fredy Guarin, while Yuto Nagatomo and Jonathan are integral to the way Inter play at full-back.
Bologna meanwhile have resisted the temptation to play Diego Laxalt against his parent club, with Alessandro Diamanti and Panagiotis Kone playing just behind Jonathan Cristaldo. Veteran centre-back Cesare Natali also returns, providing experience to a backline that has struggled all season long.
PREDICTION! As Serie A's most proficient attack taking on its second-worst defence calling an Inter victory will hardly bowl anyone over, but that is exactly what I'm going to do. Bologna have the capacity to threaten if Diamanti performs, but can they keep Palacio quiet long enough to do so? I don't think so, picking a 2-1 away win.
Here come the two teams, at a Dall'Ara packed with Bologna fans here in hope rather than expectation. They should take heart from a marked recent improvement in performances though, plus an away win at the San Siro last season!
Just about ready to get underway then, as Inter look to go third in Serie A with maximum points. Mazzarri's men have failed to score in just of their 12 league games so far this season!
Here we go at a noisy Dall'Ara as Inter kickoff shooting from right to left, quickly searching for Jonathan on a long diagonal pass.
Guarin wins a corner kick for the visitors inside a minute, breezing past Sorensen after a clever dart down the line. The early set-piece just evades Alvarez, as Bologna clear their lines through Krhin.
YELLOW CARD! Inter midfielder Taider has been cautioned early on against his former club, after clattering into Morleo out wide. The Algerian is very unlucky to be booked for the first tackle of the match, but did go in forcefully without winning the ball.
Cristaldo is just crowded out in the penalty area after Inter were caught napping in defence, with Krhin intercepting a long throw from Handanovic. An encouraging start for the hosts, who are pressing high with purpose in the early going.
Inter just begin to establish a sustained spell of possession as Jonthan and Taider exchange passes out wide in a neat combination, but the eventual cross towards Palacio goes out of play before reaching the six-yard box.
Ricky Alvarez gets involved for the first time tonight and creates space with a superb run towards the corner flag, turning inside Perez only to see his curling cross turned away by Sorensen. Inter have to settle for a corner kick, which Diamanti is forced to turn behind again under pressure from Jonathan.
GOAL! Bologna 1-0 Inter (Kone)
Bologna stun the visitor on the counter to break the deadlock, after profiting from a superb advantage played by the referee. His decision not to stop play after Taider pulled back Diamanti allowed the Rossoblu skipper to get free and drive into the final third, before passing inside to Kone in acres of space. The Greek midfielder steadied himself before placing a low strike through the legs of Handanovic. Advantage to the hosts!
SHOT! It must be said that Taider is rather fortunate not to have been sent off for a foul in the build-up to that opener, a view Diamanti clearly agrees with as he is booked for fierce protests to the official. Inter restart and almost create an immediate equaliser, with Palacio controlling sharply before aiming a strike straight at keeper Curci from 12 yards.
Taider is attempting to atone for that error as he dictates in midfield, but fails to pick out Jonathan with a fairly simple square pass. Inter are now forced to chase the game, but in all honestly a player of Palacio's quality should have levelled just moments after conceding.
Guarin takes a swing at a speculative volley after watching Cambiasso's long diagonal drift his way, but shanks over the top from a difficult angle. Inter just need a touch more patience in those positions, as Cristaldo sends a tame header straight to Handanovic at the other end.
SUBSTITUTION: Nagatomo forces a break in play after requiring treatment on an injury problem, and immediately signals to the bench that he cannot continue. Alvaro Pereira comes on his place in a straight swap to play at wing-back.
Pereira's first involvement is to almost immediately haul over Diamanti, with Morelo and Taider sharing a fierce 50-50 soon after. Bologna are definitely fired up for this one and have a lead to show for their early efforts, as Guarin attempts to shoot from inside his own half.
Rolando takes a chance after keeping Diamanti's looping long ball in play near the byline, but escapes unscathed despite being quickly closed down by Kone. Inter then once again build out wide as Guarin finds some space to send in a low cross, but Bologna clear their lines comfortably.
YELLOW CARD! Morleo chooses to take some revenge on Taider with a late lunge in midfield, mistiming a sliding challenge to pick up a caution. That tackle actually broke an Inter break led by a mazy dribble inside from Alvarez, as Inter continue to search for penetration in the final third.
MISS! Palacio has just spurned another glorious opportunity to equalise for Inter. The forward was presented with a free header from eight yards by a clever chipped cross from Jonathan, but got up to meet the delivery too early and could only send a wayward effort past the post.
MISS! Palacio has just spurned another glorious opportunity to equalise for Inter. The forward was presented with a free header from eight yards by a clever chipped cross from Jonathan, but got up to meet the delivery too early and could only send a wayward effort past the post.
YELLOW CARD! Kone follows Morleo into the referee's notebook but is perhaps hard done by, conceding a free kick just outside his own box after showing studs in a clean sliding tackle on Guarin. Bologna block the following set piece as Inter start to step up the pressure.
Garcis has just blocked a cross from Pereira with his groin, boy did that look painful. Once again Bologna show surprising solidity to clear the following corner, with Morleo wasting a chance to cross as the hosts looked to break.
MISS! Inter prove wasteful in front of goal yet again, with Pereira failing to turn Taider's cross home with Curci hopelessly out of position. His cutback is kept in play by Taider, but after missing the far post by millimetres Inter fail to keep the move alive. Plenty of ponder for Mazzari at the break with wasteful finishing like that!
Inter's frustration continues in first-half stoppage time, as Guarin hits a free kick onto the top of the crossbar with the aid of a massive deflection.
HALF TIME: Bologna 1-0 Inter
Bologna just about reach the interval with their narrow advantage at the break, thanks to a clinical counter finished off neatly from Kone. Inter have had more than enough chances to draw level, with they have lacked a cutting edge in the final third so far and trail at the interval as a result.
Mazzarri will be livid with the manner in which his side conceded the opener, carved wide open after attacking a corner kick at the other end just moments earlier. Diamanti evaded a poor challenge from Taider and found Kone with the freedom of the Inter penalty area. The rest was academic, giving Pioli's men genuine hope of securing only their third win of the campaign. There is a long way to go yet though.
Inter have shown the kind of attacking intent that has served them well so far this season, but without the killer instinct required to restore parity. Palacio in particular should have scored on at least one occasion, firing straight at Curci before heading wide from close range soon after.
BENCH WATCH! Both sides have options in reserve if they want to change the game late on, with Mazzarri surely considering alternatives after a slack start. Mateo Kovacic looks the most likely alternative, while Bianchi or Moscardelli could well be introduced in reply for the Rossoblu.
SUBSTITUTION: Both teams are back and we have news of surprising change for Bologna in attack, with Pioli deciding to replace Cristaldo with Rolando Bianchi to provide a more physical presence in attack.
Bianchi quickly has a positive impact as he flicks the ball on for Kone, who takes a whack on the knee and wins a free kick for Bologna just wide of the penalty area. Diamanti attempts to catch out Handanovic with a clever low shot, which needs parrying by Handanovic at full stretch.
Inter press forward at the other and win a corner kick, which leads to Campagnaro connecting poorly with a header at the far post that goes over the top without troubling Cerci. The visitors really need to make much more of those set-piece opportunities, particularly given Bologna's poor defensive record this season.
GOAL! Bologna 1-1 Inter (Jonathan)
The Nerazzurri are level as Jonathan's low strike takes a big deflection before trickling home at the near post. The Brazilian will claim the goal after beating Natali before firing towards goal, but Sorensen's late touch gave Cerci no chance and diverted the ball into an empty net. Inter are level and on the balance of play it is a goal they definitely deserve.
Bianchi tests Handanovic with a sweetly-struck volley, deciding to strike after a poor headed clearance sat up invitingly around 30 yards from goal. His strike had the Inter stopper scrambling, but he did enough to parry with a strong left arm.
SUBSTITUTION: Inter make a change in central midfield, with Taider replaced by Kovacic as the visitors look for a creative spark.
Cambiasso is caught in two minds after ghosting in to meet a corner kick at the near post, not committing to header or volley as a promising opening goes begging. Guarin then profits after surely being offside in a packed penalty, with Curci protesting furiously once his shot has been blocked behind for a corner kick. That show of dissent is enough to get the goalkeeper booked.
Inter are starting to turn the screw and win another corner, which Morleo heads away before Perez shuts down Alvarez on the follow-up. Plenty of reason to think there is another goal in this match for the visitors, but Bologna have shown plenty of fight since taking that early lead.
SUBSTITUTION: Bologna make a change to provide fresh legs at right wing-back, with Garcis replaced by Jose Crespo. Time to dig deep now for the Rossoblu.
Guarin glides past Antonsson but just checks his run with the chance to cross inside the penalty area, but soon gets involved again to meet Jonathan's pass across the box. The Colombian is closed down by Crespo but should still do better with a looping effort, missing the target by some distance.
Perez is suffering after launching into a strong challenge on Jonathan, forcing a break in play so the Uruguay midfielder can receive treatment. Eventually he rejoins play, with Bologna dropping deeper and now struggling to escape their own half.
SUBSTITUTION: Perez is unable to play any further part after a committed display largely spent closing down Alvarez. Pazienza take his place in the Rossoblu's final change, providing extra protection for the back three.
A definite lull in proceedings as Inter struggle to keep possession, eventually allowing the hosts to clear their lines as Bianchi wins a free kick. Soon after he is penalised though, leaning on Juan as he attempted to get up above the Inter centre-back.
Morleo goes to ground to prevent Jonathan cutting inside at the byline, forcing another unwelcome delay for the visitors as he struggles with cramp. Inter have a corner but decide to make a change before the cross can come in, with Belfodil on for the final few minutes.
Bologna clear another corner kick and quickly aim for the spectacular at the other end, with Kone attempting an overhead kick from Diamanti's cross. His effort brings back memories of a goal of the season the Greek striker unleashed two seasons ago, but on this occasion his effort sails high over the crossbar.
Kone once again sees his name up in lights as he cracks a wayward strike wide from 30 yards, wasting the chance to keep the ball in the opposition half. Inter then break at the other end as Guarin finds Alvarez, but his powerful effort ends up at least five yards over the crossbar as we head towards added time.
OFF THE CROSSBAR! Inter come close to a last-gasp winner as Rolando attacks a curling corner kick at the near post but Curci is equal to a low effort as Bologna scramble clear. The visitors have another corner and eventually work the ball to Juan at the far post, who cracks up a volley onto the crossbar via the aid of a late deflection. Inches away from a late winner.
FULL TIME: Bologna 1-1 Inter
Despite that dramatic conclusion Inter have failed to produce the win required to go third, with Bologna holding firm to earn a point that moves them out of the relegation zone.
A frustrating night then for the Nerazzurri, who are still unbeaten away from home but have now drawn four times on the road. Bologna should take heart from a spirited display, enough to give the Rossoblu a welcome reprieve from the Serie A trap door.
That just about does it for Sports Mole's live Serie A text commentary this evening, but be sure to check back in tomorrow when Roma will bid to go top of the table with victory over Cagliari. Goodnight!
