Napoli Stumble in Bologna, Serie A Race Thrown Wide Open
In a dramatic turn of events in Italy's Serie A, the defending champions, Napoli, were handed a 2-0 defeat by a resilient Bologna side on Sunday. This result forced Napoli to cede the top of the table to AC Milan on goal difference, completely reshaping the title race.
How the Match Was Won
The first half ended without a goal, but the deadlock was broken just five minutes after the restart. The opening goal came from a moment of pure quality, with substitute Nicolo Cambiaghi delivering a magnificent cross from the left. Thijs Dallinga was perfectly positioned to meet it with a precise shot that put Bologna in the lead.
Napoli failed to recover from this setback, and Bologna sealed their famous victory in the 66th minute. This time, the attack originated from the right flank, culminating in a powerful header from Jhon Lucumi that found the top right corner of Napoli's net, leaving the visitors with no way back.
Wider League Implications
This defeat was a massive missed opportunity for Antonio Conte's Napoli. Their failure to capitalize came just a day after AC Milan spectacularly collapsed against Parma. Milan had been leading 2-0 on Saturday but were held to a 2-2 draw, an outcome that had left the door wide open for Napoli to establish a lead at the summit.
With this result, the Serie A standings are incredibly tight. AC Milan and Napoli are now level on points, with Milan ahead on goal difference. The chasing pack also closed in, as Bologna's win propelled them to fifth place, just a single point off the lead.
The drama is far from over. Later on Sunday, both Inter Milan and Roma, who also sit just one point behind the leading pair, had the chance to finish the day as Serie A leaders with victories in their respective matches against Lazio and Udinese.
In other Serie A action from the weekend, Sassuolo secured a convincing 3-0 win over Atalanta, while struggling Genoa were held to a 2-2 draw by last-placed Fiorentina.
