Epic Bologna, who in Vigo on the sixth day of the Europa League turned the game around with a great second half. It ends 2-1, the star is Bernardeschi who first scores a penalty and then scores the goal that completes the comeback, after the Spaniards had taken the lead in the first half with Zaragoza. But under the rain of Balaidos the whole team is growing, going beyond the numerical problems in defense and building the conditions to be able to chase a place in the top eight of the tournament: the rossoblù are now at 11 points, eighth place is at 13.
THE CHOICES In the midst of an emergency in defence, with Lucumì left on the bench due to a tendon problem and Casale and Viti injured, Italiano deployed Lykogiannis as central defender alongside Heggem, while in midfield Moro replaced the feverish Ferguson; up front, Bernardeschi plays on the right in place of Orsolini, with Fabbian in the centre, Rowe on the left and Castro as striker, preferred to Dall’ingaggio despite having played almost the entire match on Sunday against Lazio. Celta fielded Williot Swedberg from the first minute, the left winger who on Sunday, coming off the bench, scored the brace for the victory (0-2) at the Bernabeu; with him in attack Bryan Zaragoza, further back, and Borja Iglesias. Claudio Giraldez then draws a 3-4-1-2 and confirms Ionut Radu in goal, who many remember for the duck at Dall’Ara in April 2022 which cost Inter a heavy defeat and launched Milan’s chase for the Scudetto, but who was reborn three years later, and after an excellent half-season in Venice he is establishing himself as a starter in the place that was held by Vicente Guaita.
FIRST HALF As per the weather forecast, it starts raining at kick-off. That will be a factor. Bologna immediately takes the ball into their hands, Celta defends with order and gives the impression of waiting for spaces to open up and errors to arrive. In the 6th minute there is a first attempt by Bernardeschi from distance, in the 13th minute a cross shot by Holm finds Radu again, but we are in the midst of skirmishes. Celta waits slyly in the 17th minute and strikes: ball on the right to Swedberg, Lykogiannis slips when tackling it and opens the way to the goal, which the Swede explores all the way to the area for the assist to Zaragoza, left alone in the middle of the area: 1-0. Bologna reacts, pushing especially with the initiatives of Bernardeschi and Rowe. At 27′ a double opportunity: Lykogiannis launches from his half of the field, Starfelt makes a mistake and misjudges the ball, leaving Rowe alone in front of Radu, but the rossoblù striker makes a sensational mistake; a little later Bernardeschi from the right catches Castro at the far post, who is alone but hits a bad header. Celta makes some mistakes but still remains organised. In the 36th minute Heggem risks making a mess with a back pass to Ravaglia, with the goalkeeper having difficulty under Swedberg’s pressure, but takes advantage of the Swede’s lack of control to save Bologna. In the 43rd minute the biggest opportunity for Bologna, with Bernardeschi serving Castro in the area: the shot is a sure shot, but Radu intervenes with his right leg and sends it into the corner. The half ends with a suspicious forearm touch from Beltran in the area: the rossoblù protest but Petrescu lets it play.
SECOND HALF At the start Celta replaces Zaragoza with Hugo Alvarez. Bologna pushes: in the 14th minute there is a great play by Bernardeschi on the right, the rossoblù looks for the back line and finds Pobega at the top of the six-yard box who passes it into the net, but the goal is annulled because Bernardeschi is offside on Moro’s throw. Two minutes later the situation is reversed: Pobega flies into the area and ends up on the ground following a tackle with Javi Rodriguez. Petrescu blows the whistle for offside, there is VAR control and this time there is no offside, because Pobega is kept in the game by Ristic: it’s a penalty kick, Bernardeschi is perfect in the conversion: 1-1. Celta changes the attack, the legend Aspas comes on for Swedberg and Jutglà for Iglesias, but Bologna continues to push and in the 29th minute Bernardeschi takes advantage of a dribbling error by Celta with Iago Aspas serving the rossoblù, who enters the area and beats Radu at the far post: 1-2. Celta doesn’t find spaces, Bologna grows in all phases. In the last 10 minutes, the Italian brought on Orsolini for Bernardeschi and Dallinga for Castro and the team continued to attack, conceding little to the Galicians. A clash between Moro and Aspas ends in a yellow for Radu for protests, Odgaard and Ferguson join Bologna for Moro and Pobega. Celta continues to dribble, but the rossoblù close the passing lines. In added time, Rueda shoots high from the edge. It ends with the celebration of the 1100 rossoblù fans who arrived in Galicia.