Coppa Italia: Bologna advance thanks to a late goal

Atalanta's journey in the 2024/25 Coppa Italia Frecciarossa comes to its end in the quarterfinals as Bologna advance to the next stage thanks to a late goal from Castro.

After De Ketelaere drew first blood with an angled finish in a mano-a-mano with Skorupski (tipped over the bar by the visiting goalkeeper), Bologna had their go from distance, with both ranged attempts sailing out of harm's way. As minutes went by, the game proved itself a hotly-contested contention, with Hien acting as an impromptu striker and nearly missing the further post via a ranged left-footer in an attempt to break through the stalemate in the dying minutes. Called back to his defensive duties right before the halftime whistle, Hien tagged along by cushioning Pobega's 11th-hour attempt to ease off Rui Patrício's save.

Atalanta almost broke the deadlock on 51 minutes through an astonishing choral play: following a Pašalić-Djimsiti give-and-go in close quarters, the Albanian sent the ball through for an onrushing Bellanova, who saw his finish quelled out for a corner by a staggering save from Skorupski. Bologna countered at the hour mark with Pobega, who found Rui Patrício's opposition. Then Cuadrado, subbed in on 60 minutes together with Samardžić and Nerazzurro debutant of the night Daniel Maldini, tested the waters by stinging Skorupski's gloves shortly after. 70 minutes in and another chance for the Nerazzurri as Brescianini's sortie got parried by Skorupski. Bologna retorted with Moro, who sent his shot from good striking position high. While the closing third of the game saw Atalanta's second winter signing also make his black-and-blue debut, Maldini had his right-footed strike on Brescianini's through ball parried by Skorupski on 74 minutes. In the 76th Rui Patricio sprung into action to nullify Holm's left-footed scorcher. The visitors took the lead from an 80-minute set-piece situation with Castro.

ATALANTA 0-1 BOLOGNA

Scorer: Castro 80 (B).

Atalanta: Rui Patrício, Toloi (Posch 72), Hien, Djimsiti, Bellanova, de Roon, Éderson, Zappacosta (Cuadrado 59), Pašalić (Samardžić 59), De Ketelaere (Brescianini 67), Retegui (Maldini 59). Unused Bench: Rossi, Dajcar, Sulemana, Ruggeri, Palestra, Del Lungo, Obrić. Coach: Gian Piero Gasperini.

Bologna: Skorupski, Holm, Beukema, Lucumì, Lykogiannis, Freuler, Pobega (Casale 78), Ndoye, Odgaard (Dominguez 40), Fabbian (Moro 67), Dallinga (Castro 78). Unused bench: Bagnolini, Ravaglia, Erlic, Calabria, El Azzouzi, Aebischer, Cambiaghi, De Silvestri, Miranda. Coach: Vincenzo Italiano.

Referee: Livio Marinelli from Tivoli;
Assistant referees: Luigi Rossi from Rovigo and Marco Ricci from Firenze;
Fourth official: Davide Ghersini from Genova;
V.A.R.: Marco Serra from Torino;
A.V.A.R.: Federico La Penna from Roma 1.

Notes: Holm (B), De Roon (A) and Ndoye (B) booked.