Sassuolo-Bologna 1-1
MARKERS: 3′ pt Zirkzee, 44′ pt Boloca.
SASSUOLO (4-2-3-1): Tips 6; Toljan 7, Erlic 5.5, Ferrari 6, Vina 6.5 (43′ st Pedersen sv); Boloca 7, Thorstvedt 6 (14′ st Racic 6); Berardi 6, Bajrami 5.5 (27′ st Volpato 6), Lauriente 5.5 (27′ st Ceide 5.5), Pinamonti 6 (43′ st Defrel sv). On the bench: Cragno, Pegolo, Viti, Missori, Lipani, Castillejo, Mulattieri. Coach: Dionisi 6.
BOLOGNA (4-2-3-1): Skorupski 6.5; De Silvestri 6 (1′ st Posch 6), Bonifazi 6.5, Calafiori 6, Lykogiannis 5.5 (19′ st Kristiansen 6); Freuler 6, Aebischer 6.5 (24′ st El Azzouzi 6, from 39′ st Moro sv); Orsolini 6.5, Ferguson 6, Saelemaekers 5.5 (18′ st Ndoye 6), Zirkzee 7. On the bench: Ravaglia, Gasperini, Beukema Corazza, Fabbian, Urbanski, Karlsson, Van Hooijdonk. Coach: Motta 6.
REFEREE: Giua of Sassari 6.
NOTE: clear afternoon, pitch in good condition. Booked: Lykogiannis, El Azzouzi, Berardi. Corners: 6-2. Recovery: 1′; 5’+1.
In the first matchday ten of Serie A, Sassuolo and Bologna drew 1-1 after an entertaining and balanced match. At the Mapei Stadium in Reggio Emilia the goals all came in the first half: Zirkzee’s initial lead for Bologna was answered by Boloca for Sassuolo. At Bologna, Beukema withdrew from the warm-up due to a flexor injury: Motta was thus forced to start Bonifazi, still with zero minutes in this championship. Bologna started strong straight away and took the lead in the 3rd minute, thanks to Zirkzee: the Dutch attacker, served by Aebischer, attacked deep, sat Consigli down with a feint and scored the goal to make it 1-0. The immediate disadvantage did not discourage a Sassuolo team who were well placed on the pitch and capable of immediately rushing forward in search of an equaliser. As the minutes passed, the guests conceded more and more meters to the neroverdi: Sassuolo thus began to build opportunity after opportunity. In the 13th minute Vina challenges Skorupski with a precise diagonal, while in the 18th minute it’s Pinamonti’s turn, whose right-footed shot grazes the far post.
The deserved equalizer for Dionisi’s boys came at the end of the half, when in the 44th minute Boloca scored from distance with a precise right-footed shot into the corner. This is the Romanian midfielder’s first goal in Serie A. In the second half the two teams stretch and the technical errors also increase. Sassuolo gives the impression of having more on a physical level, putting Bologna in difficulty thanks to their offensive pressure. As the minutes passed, Berardi lit up and in the 66th minute let loose a treacherous left-footed shot, forcing Skorupski to perform a miracle. In the 75th minute Bologna almost made it 2-1, but Orsolini’s lob was saved on the goal line by Toljan. Shortly afterwards Zirkzee saw his personal brace canceled due to the offside position of the assistman Orsolini. After a second half in which Sassuolo had taken the lead, the final gave a more dangerous Bologna. Zirkzee again came close to scoring in the 91st minute from a free kick.