Final score

27 October 2015 20:45

Bologna
0 - 1
Inter
22' (2nd half) Icardi
Referee: Luca Banti / Linesmen: La Rocca, Posado / Fourth official: Peretti / Assistants: Celi, Mariani
Watch highlights
Minute Text commentary
46' Ljajic takes a free kick from way out, but Da Costa makes a low save. That's it from the first half, 0-0 at the Dall'Ara
44' There will be one minute of additional time
41' The ball from the corner comes to Kondogbia, who tries his luck from the edge of the area. Just wide
41' Santon puts the ball in from the right, but Gastaldello gets ahead of Icardi for an Inter corner
39' Kondogbia fouls Taider and picks up a yellow card
38' Mazy run from Ferrari in front the right but Santon gets the block in
32' Bologna counter attack, Mancosu beats Ranocchia and centres it. Juan Jesus does well to clear the danger
29' Ljajic takes the free kick from edge of the area, Perisic leaps above everybody but can't direct his header on target
24' Ljajic tries it on his own but his low cross is blocked by the Rossoblu defence
21' Perisic gets beyond Ferrari but mishits the cross
16' The match has yet to get properly started, both sides need to find their rhythm
12' Gastaldello upends Kondogbia, Nerazzurri free kick midway inside the Bologna half
8' Ljajic finds Perisic who aims for Icardi in the area, but Da Costa blocks easily
5' Diawara plays it in behind for Mounier, who beats the offside trap but can't get on the end of the pass
4' Foul by Kondogbia on Ferrari, free kick for Bologna
1' And the match begins, the home team take the kick-off
1' The teams are out on the pitch. We're just seconds away from kick-off!
1' The Dall'Ara is close to bursting for Bologna v Inter, the first match of Week 10 in Serie A 2015/16
Minute Text commentary
50' And it's all over! 10-men Inter see off Bologna at the Dall'Area. Mauro Icardi with the decisive goal
49' Bologna with a great chance, the ball drops to Destro who forces a miracle save from Handanovic
45' Five minutes of additional time
45' Banti blows up for a foul on Taider, Mancini protests and is sent to the stands
42' Final change for Mancini, Palacio replaces Ljajic
42' Rossettini fells Biabiany who had a run in on goal. Yellow card for the Rossoblu No. 13
40' Long-range effort from Taider, easy save for Handanovic
36' Mancini makes a sub as well, Biabiany on for Icardi
36' Double change for Bologna: Rizzo and Mancosu depart, Destro and Falco take their place
34' Guarin hits it first time for Icardi, who tries a volley with his right and Rossettini directs it behind
29' Inter make their first sub as well, Guarin coming on for Perisic
26' Bologna make a change, Brienza comes on to replace Giaccherini
25' Santon surges up the pitch and hits a shot from the edge of the area, Da Costa saves low
22' GOOAAAL!!! Error at the back from Bologna, Ljajic squares to Icardi who passes home into an empty net. Inter are 1-0 up!
16' Banti shows a second yellow to Felipe Melo for a foul on an opposing forward. Inter protest the decision, but it's red for the Brazilian
14' It's bouncing around everywhere in the Rossoblu box, Taider miraculously saves Bologna with a block on the line
10' Icardi cushions it down for Brozovic who shoots from distance. His shot is powerful but too central
8' Felipe Melo booked for a foul on Rizzo. The Brazilian will now miss Inter v Roma
6' Another chance for Inter, Ljajic's cross-shot beats everyone in the box and finishes behind
5' Reverse pass from Brozovic to Perisic, who finds himself in space in the box but can't find Icardi lurking in the centre
3' Deep ball for Icardi from Ranocchia, the striker twists in the air but doesn't manage to angle his header
1' The second half gets going, no changes from either side
Biabiany
6.41
6.41
Santon
6.2
6.2
Ranocchia
5.71
5.71
Jesus
6.18
6.18
Guarin
5.59
5.59
Palacio
5.71
5.71
Handanovic
7.89
7.89
Icardi
6.3
6.3
Brozovic
6.35
6.35
Kondogbia
5.16
5.16
Miranda
6.72
6.72
Perisic
5.74
5.74
Ljajic
7.24
7.24
Melo
4.49
4.49
Average rating 6.12
3 shots on target 6
4 shots off target 7
11 fouls committed 15
2 corners 2
1 offsides 1
44% ball possession 56%
wins(34) draws(15) defeats(36)

BOLOGNA – Inter's yellow kit is proving something of a lucky charm as the Nerazzurri ground out a hard-fought 1-0 victory at the Stadio Renato Dall'Ara in Bologna this evening. 

Roberto Mancini's men began the game in a 4-3-3 formation with the players working hard for each other throughout the game. They stayed solid defensively and were rewarded for the efforts when a Bologna defensive error allowed Mauro Icardi to pass it home for the only goal of the match.

Bologna began the game well and tried to press Inter high up the pitch. The hosts were tactically spot on and, as a result, Inter's movement became slow and predictable. There was not much of note in the opening half an hour, aside from an Ivan Perisic header that went wide following a Nerazzurri free kick near the byline and two Bologna counter-attacks that Samir Handanovic did well to smother early. 

In the 38th minute, Matteo Mancosu left Andrea Ranocchia for dead but miscued his shot. In the follow-up, Geoffrey Kondogbia tried to get the ball in front of Adam Masina, but ended up fouling the Moroccan and picked up a yellow card. 

Inter created their first real chance a minute later when a cross heading straight for Icardi's head in the six-yard box was diverted behind for a corner at the very last moment. The rest of the opening 45 was played out without any more danger and the teams went in level at the break. 

There were no changes to either side during half-time. In the 50th minute, the Nerazzurri worked themselves a good opportunity when Perisic cut in from the right, but unfortunately his cross couldn't find Icardi waiting in the box. 

Two minutes later, Felipe Melo came in late on Anthony Mounier, warranting a yellow card that ruled the Brazilian out of the Roma game. Then in the 61st minute, Melo was judged to have made one foul too many after clattering into Emanuele Giaccherini and referee Luca Banti sent him into the changing rooms early for a second bookable offence. Now down to ten men, Mancini adjusted the system to a 4-4-1 with Adem Ljajic and Ivan Perisic playing high up the pitch on the wings. 

In the 67th minute, the Nerazzurri found themselves in a good position in the Bologna half. A searching ball intended for Ljajic wasn't dealt with by defender Alex Ferrari and it squirmed through to the Serbian international at the far post. He took one touch and served it up for Icardi who only had to stroke it home and hand Inter the advantage. Bologna were visibly shocked as the goal seemed to come out of nowhere. 

As the minutes ticked away, Fredy Guarin came on for Perisic and immediately found Icardi with a cross that the Nerazzurri captain put narrowly wide. That was to be the Argentine's last contribution as he then made way for Jonathan Biabiany to come on for a spirited 15 minutes. Soon after, Rodrigo Palacio also came on for Ljajic. 

There was still time for Handanovic to make a hero of himself deep into the five minutes' injury time when he repelled Mattia Destro's volley from point-blank range and made sure of the three points. 

Admittedly, Inter weren't on sparkling form tonight, but the team was clinical and solid. These qualities have historically always made the difference in Serie A. 

BOLOGNA 0-1 INTER (HT 0-0)

Scorers: Icardi (77).

BOLOGNA: 1 Da Costa; 24 Ferrari, 28 Gastaldello, 13 Rossettini, 25 Masina; 22 Rizzo (10 Destro, 81), 21 Diawara, 8 Taider; 17 Giaccherini (23 Brienza, 71), 11 Mancosu (7 Falco, 81), 26 Mounier.
Subs not used: 32 Stojanovic, 97 Sarr, 3 Morleo, 5 Pulgar, 6 Crisetig, 15 Mbaye, 18 Acquafresca, 33 Brighi.
Coach: Delio Rossi.

INTER: 1 Handanovic; 21 Santon, 25 Miranda, 23 Ranocchia, 5 Jesus; 77 Brozovic, 83 Melo, 7 Kondogbia; 22 Ljajic (8 Palacio, 87), 9 Icardi (11 Biabiany, 81), 44 Perisic (13, Guarin 71).
Subs not used: 30 Carrizo, 46 Berni, 10 Jovetic, 12 Telles, 14 Montoya, 17 Medel, 27 Gnoukouri, 55 Nagatomo, 97 Manaj.
Coach: Roberto Mancini.

Bookings: Kondogbia (39), Felipe Melo (53), Rossettini (87).
Sent off: Felipe Melo (61, second yellow), Mancini (90).

Additional time: 1+5.
Referee: Luca Banti.
Assistants: Claudio La Rocca, Fabrizio Posado.
Fourth official: Giorgio Peretti.
Additional assistants: Domenico Celi, Maurizio Mariani.

starting lineups

Da Costa 1 1 Handanovic
Ferrari 24 21 Santon
Rossettini 13 25 Miranda
Gastaldello 28 23 Ranocchia
Masina 25 5 Jesus
Rizzo 22 83 Melo
Diawara 21 7 Kondogbia
Taider 8 77 Brozovic
Giaccherini 17 22 Ljajic
Mancosu 11 44 Perisic
Mounier 26 9 Icardi

substitutes

Sarr 97 30 Carrizo
Morleo 3 46 Berni
Pulgar 5 8 Palacio
Crisetig 6 10 Jovetic
Falco 7 11 Biabiany
Destro 10 12 Telles
Mbaye 15 13 Guarin
Acquafresca 18 14 Montoya
Brienza 23 17 Medel
Oikonomou 2 27 Gnoukouri
Brighi 33 55 Nagatomo
97 Manaj