Inter struggles at Bologna again and is left level with Napoli atop Serie A
ROME (AP) — Inter Milan has a history of recent struggles at Bologna and Sunday proved no different.
Riccardo Orsolini's stoppage-time bicycle kick lifted Bologna to a 1-0 victory over the Serie A leader and left the Nerazzurri level with second-placed Napoli with five rounds remaining.
The defeat brought back memories of a goalkeeping blunder by Ionut Radu that gifted Bologna a victory three years ago, setting up the title for rival AC Milan. Inter also lost at Bologna the next season in a rain storm.
Inter won at Bologna last season but spent so much energy it couldn't recover in time before getting eliminated by Atletico Madrid in the Champions League four days later.
This time, the match was decided when a long throw-in was flicked on by Inter defender Yann Bisseck toward Orsolini, who turned it in with an acrobatic left-footed volley to send the Renato Dall'Ara into delirium.
Inter is chasing a treble this season and also faces big upcoming games in the Champions League and Italian Cup, but coach Simone Inzaghi had labeled the Bologna visit as the biggest match of the season.
Now the Nerazzurri are deadlocked with Antonio Conte's Napoli team, which isn't involved in any other competitions and can devote all of its energy toward chasing a second title in three years.
Napoli won 1-0 at last-placed Monza on Saturday to heap more pressure onto Inter.
Bologna moved up to fourth, one point ahead of Juventus, which visits Parma on Monday.
Inter next faces Milan in the second leg of the Italian Cup semifinals on Wednesday (the first leg finished 1-1). Then after Roma visits the San Siro next weekend, Inter travels to face Barcelona in the first leg of the Champions League semifinals.
And there could be another meeting with Bologna in the Cup final, after Bologna beat Empoli 3-0 in the first leg of the other semifinal.
AC Milan facing Atalanta
Earlier, Empoli and Venezia drew 2-2 – leaving both clubs in the relegation zone.
Milan was hosting Atalanta later Sunday.
___
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