Bologna lost 1-0 to Chievo at the Stadio Dall’Ara on Sunday afternoon, with the win putting Rolando Maran’s side in the top half of the Serie A table.
Felsinei striker Mattia Destro had a penalty saved by Albano Bizzarri in the first half and the Flying Donkeys won this dour game thanks to Simone Pepe’s goal 11 minutes from time.
The first half was a scrappy affair. Both teams tried to create possession but passes were usually squandered in the final third.
Destro and Luca Rossettini failed to test Chievo goalkeeper Bizzarri from long range and Flying Donkeys midfielder Valter Birsa blasted a shot high from distance. Simone Pepe came on for Chievo after 13 minutes to replace the injured Perparim Hetemaj.
Rossoblu winger Emanuele Giaccherini was fouled in the penalty box and Nicolas Frey received a yellow card for the challenge after 36 minutes. Destro took the resulting penalty but the shot was weak and Bizzarri stuck out his right leg to save it.
Birsa blasted another shot over the bar early in the second half but Chievo eventually went into a defensive shell. Bologna started dominating possession but it was usually futile and Bizzarri became a spectator in the Chievo goal.
Giaccherini had a shot deflected away by Dario Dainelli and Daniele Gastaldello’s effort after the resulting corner did not hit the target. Matteo Brighi later attempted a shot from long range.
Chievo took the lead against the run of play on 79 minutes. Fabrizio Cacciatore looked fractionally offside but play went on and he crossed from the left wing. Pepe controlled the ball down and he hit an angled daisycutter into the far bottom corner.
Giaccherini tried to equalise but his shot flew over the bar. The rest of the game just became a long-ball session from Bologna, who lacked imagination in the final third.
