Antonio Conte’s Napoli side appeared set to close the gap on champions Inter, as they took the lead in the 18th minute at Stadio Renato Dall’Ara through Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa’s well-taken goal.
Napoli enjoyed a dominant first half, with Anguissa’s strike being the highlight, but Bologna finished the match strongly. Dan Ndoye leveled the score in the 64th minute, backheeling Jens Odgaard’s low cross off the crossbar to earn the hosts a deserved point.
Napoli were indebted to their goalkeeper, Simone Scuffet, who stepped in for the ill Alex Meret. Scuffet made a crucial save in the dying seconds, diving to palm away Emil Holm’s powerful header and preserve the draw for his team.
Napoli, still under the suspension of their coach Conte, remain three points behind Inter, who had given Napoli a glimmer of hope by throwing away a two-goal halftime lead in their 2-2 draw at Parma on Saturday. That three-point gap could play into Inter’s favor as they prepare for a challenging run, including their Champions League quarter-final clash with Bayern Munich on Tuesday, as well as a tricky Italian Cup semi-final against AC Milan.
Napoli’s remaining seven league fixtures are all against teams in the lower half of the table, while Inter face much stiffer competition, with matches against Bologna, Roma, and Lazio—teams all battling for Champions League qualification.
For Bologna, the 1-1 draw keeps them in fourth place, just behind Atalanta, who were defeated by Lazio on Sunday. While Bologna’s hopes of climbing to third were dashed, they remain firmly in the race for a European spot. Under the leadership of Vincenzo Italiano, Bologna aren’t just aiming for a Champions League place; they also have one foot in the Italian Cup final, holding a 3-0 advantage from their first-leg win in the semi-finals.
Since the start of the year, Bologna have been in excellent form, losing only once. Napoli’s resolute defending and Scuffet’s heroics denied them all three points, but Bologna will now look ahead to a crucial clash at Atalanta next weekend, with their European hopes still alive.
