Bologna smashed Bari 2-0 at the Stadio Renato Dall’Ara on Sunday afternoon in Serie B action.
Karim Laribi scored his first two goals of the campaign to hand new Bari coach Davide Nicola his first loss and launch the Rossoblu into sole possession of third place. 
The home side started in their usual 4-3-1-2 and controlled much of the early possession but didn’t generate a threat until just past the quarter hour when Franco Zuculini played an inviting cross to Daniel Bessa whose hard shot was saved by Bari keeper Antonio Donnarumma.
The 24-year old keeper managed to flick away his rebound at the last instant, denying an easy tap-in goal for Roberto Aquafresca.
The Galletti were scarcely into the match but had two clear chances within minutes at the half hour mark, both from talented winger Cristian Galano. The 23-year old was slightly off-balance and didn’t quite have his feet set as his right-footed shot from the top of the area forced a diving save from Bologna keeper Ferdinando Coppola, and Galano followed it up with a lovely slalom run into the box but his attempt to surprise Coppola with a quick, outside-of-the-boot left footer, lacked the venom to push Bari in the lead.
Bologna nearly took the lead at the close of the half when Aquafresca hit a stinging volley from close range, but Donnarumma showed quick reflexes and somehow managed to keep the ball out of his own net.
The Napoli native would not be so lucky a few minutes later when deep into extra time Laribi hit a hopeful volley from 20 meters which Donnarumma reacted well to save but somehow the ball managed to slip through his hands and Bari found themselves deservedly down heading into the locker room.
Nicola attempted to alter the flow at the hour mark when he substituted Giuseppe De Luca and Serbian winger Alen Stevanovic but the young coach’s changes did little to generate much offensive firepower.
The Tunisian-Italian left winger Laribi, who was all over the pitch on this day, hit a vicious drive from just outside the penalty area which barely missed the crossbar, denying the on-loan Sassuolo product a wonder goal.
The 23-year old would have his moment a few minutes later when Zuculini played another low cross into the box which somehow managed to get through a pair of Bari defenders in the box and Laribi, completely unmarked along with a teammate at the back post, had the easiest of touches to double the Felsinei’s lead.
Bologna have overcome their slow start and now sit four points behind league leaders Carpi, while Bari are barely hanging on with little margin for error, a mere two points above the play-out zone and looking for ways to plug a leaky defense.
