Bologna secured a 1-0 win over Atalanta in Bergamo thanks to a late strike from Riccardo Orsolini, although the result was not enough to alter the Conference League picture, with Atalanta still finishing ahead due to a superior head-to-head record.
The clash at the Gewiss Stadium was effectively a direct battle for seventh place and European qualification, even if Atalanta’s six-point cushion meant qualification had already been leaning in their favour.
The hosts were without suspended defender Isak Hien and injured pair Odilon Kossounou and Lorenzo Bernasconi, while Bologna arrived buoyed by a 3-2 win over Napoli, though they were missing suspended Jhon Lucumí and had several players short of full fitness.
The opening stages were lively, with Atalanta looking to exploit space through Charles De Ketelaere, while Lukasz Skorupski was alert outside his box to clear danger ahead of Davide Zappacosta. Federico Bernardeschi went close with a low effort that shaved the post, before Bologna’s attacking threat grew through Jonathan Rowe, whose effort was kept out by a sharp stop from Marco Carnesecchi.
The Atalanta goalkeeper was in inspired form, reacting quickly to deny a Nicola Zalewski curling effort that seemed destined for the top corner, before producing another outstanding stop to push away Santiago Castro’s close-range attempt in first-half stoppage time.
He also escaped punishment when Jonathan Rowe almost capitalised on a loose back-pass from Ederson.
Both sides had further chances after the break, with Kamaldeen Sulemana heading narrowly wide for Atalanta, while substitute Mitchel Bakker returned from injury and almost marked his comeback with an equaliser within a minute.
Nikola Krstović was later denied in stoppage time by Skorupski in a one-on-one situation that could have changed the outcome.
The breakthrough finally arrived late on when Rowe delivered a cross to the back post, allowing Riccardo Orsolini to finish from a tight angle and break the deadlock. Despite the defeat for Atalanta BC, their head-to-head advantage over Bologna FC 1909 ensured they still secured Conference League qualification.
