Bologna 3-3 Inter: Title-Chasing Nerazzurri Drop Points in Thriller
Serie A champions held to dramatic six-goal draw on final day
Inter Milan's Serie A title party was given an unexpected twist on Saturday as they were held to a thrilling 3-3 draw by Bologna at the Stadio Renato Dall'Ara, though the result couldn't dampen their championship celebrations.
The champions started brightly and took the lead through Federico Dimarco's 22nd-minute strike, showcasing the quality that has made him Inter's standout performer this season with a SAM rating of 9.4. However, Bologna responded with characteristic resilience, Federico Bernardeschi leveling the score just three minutes later to set the tone for an entertaining afternoon.
The home side then took a surprise lead through Tommaso Pobega in the 42nd minute, rewarding the midfielder's impressive campaign that has seen him earn an 8.6 SAM rating. The goal capped off a dominant spell for Bologna, who had clearly come to play spoiler on Inter's big day.
The second half began with more drama as Piotr Zielinski's unfortunate own goal in the 48th minute brought Inter level again. The Nerazzurri made tactical adjustments, withdrawing key players Lautaro Martinez, Nicolo Barella, and Dimarco in the 54th minute, perhaps with one eye on preserving their stars for upcoming commitments.
Inter thought they had secured victory when Francesco Esposito found the net in the 64th minute, but Bologna had other ideas. Abdoukaye Diouf's late equalizer in the 86th minute ensured the points were shared, much to the delight of the home crowd.
Tactically, this was a fascinating encounter between two sides with contrasting motivations. Inter, already crowned champions, rotated heavily and showed understandable rustiness at times. Bologna, sitting 8th with 56 points, played with the freedom of a team with nothing to lose and everything to gain.
The statistics tell the story of an evenly matched contest, with both sides registering 11 shots and similar passing accuracies around 89-90%. However, Bologna's clinical finishing saw them outperform their 1.18 expected goals, while Inter matched their 1.59 xG despite the chaotic nature of the game.
Dimarco was undoubtedly the pick of the performers, his goal and overall play justifying his exceptional 9.4 SAM rating. For Bologna, Pobega's goal and energetic display highlighted why he's been such a key figure in their respectable mid-table finish.
While this result doesn't affect Inter's title triumph, it serves as a reminder that in Serie A, every match matters. For Bologna, ending the season with such an entertaining performance against the champions provides positive momentum heading into the summer break.