Bologna secured a hard-fought and crucial 2-1 victory over Celta Vigo on a night of relentless rain in Galicia. Despite falling behind against the run of play, the Rossoblu displayed resilience and determination, with a second-half brace from Federico Bernardeschi sealing three vital points for Vincenzo Italiano's side.
Dominance Undone By A Counter-Punch
The initial phase of the match saw Bologna assert clear superiority. Vincenzo Italiano’s men dominated possession, spending large portions of the first 45 minutes camped in Celta Vigo’s half. The Italian team’s pressing was sharp and effective, successfully suffocating the Galician side and forcing them to struggle to play the ball out from the back.
Despite the territorial advantage, Bologna found clear-cut chances hard to come by. The home defense held firm, yielding only one minor scare when Jonathan Rowe managed to get a shot away that drifted wide following a dangerous press from the Englishman.
However, the defining characteristic of Bologna’s first-half performance—their high press—ultimately led to their undoing. Against the general flow of the game, Bologna were vulnerable to swift counter-attacks. Celta Vigo seized on one such opportunity, and Bryan Zaragoza capitalized sharply, putting the La Liga side ahead 1-0 just before the halftime whistle. The goal was a disappointing setback for Bologna, who had otherwise controlled the half.
VAR Drama and Bernardeschi's Redemption
The second half began with Bologna intensifying their search for an equalizer. They believed they had found it around the hour mark following a moment of fluid attacking football. A beautiful pass from Moro released Bernardeschi on the right flank, who then squared the ball for Pobega to convert. Celebration was immediately cut short, however, as the referee flagged the preceding pass by Moro as offside, nullifying the goal and sending Bologna back to square one.
Yet, destiny, aided by technology, was quick to intervene. Just minutes later, the Rossoblu were gifted a lucky opportunity. Following a passage of play inside the penalty area, a foul occurred. The referee initially awarded a penalty but then delayed the decision as the linesman raised the flag, indicating that Pobega was offside before the foul took place.
A swift and necessary VAR check followed, which correctly overturned the decision, ruling that the foul had occurred before any offside infringement. Federico Bernardeschi stepped up to the spot and calmly converted the penalty, leveling the score and lifting the spirits of the traveling Italian side.
The Experienced Italian Secures Victory
Boosted by the equalizer and the drama of the preceding minutes, Bologna aggressively pursued the winning goal. Celta Vigo, who had spent the majority of the match defending deep, showed visible signs of fatigue and struggled to cope with the increased intensity of the Italian attack.
It wasn't long before Bernardeschi, riding the wave of confidence from his successful penalty, found himself with another clear sight of goal. The experienced Italian international remained composed under pressure, slotting home a calm finish to double his tally and put Bologna ahead 2-1.
With the late lead secured, the visitors managed the closing stages of the game professionally. Celta Vigo, seemingly exhausted from their defensive efforts, offered little threat in the remaining minutes. Bologna held firm until the final whistle, securing three invaluable points on a difficult, rain-swept night.
The victory ensures Bologna head into the new year with momentum. They will now shift their focus to their remaining two crucial group matches against Celtic and Maccabi Tel Aviv in January, knowing that this dramatic comeback win in Galicia has significantly boosted their position and European aspirations.