Bologna 3–3 Inter Milan: Six-Goal Thriller at the Stadio Renato Dall'Ara
Date: 24 May 2026 | Competition: Italian Serie A
In one of the most electrifying encounters of the Serie A season, Bologna and Inter Milan played out a breathless 3–3 draw at the Stadio Renato Dall'Ara. The result kept the title race wide open, with Inter dropping precious points in their pursuit of the Scudetto, while Bologna showcased their growing reputation as giant-killers on home soil.
Match Overview
From the first whistle, both sides attacked with relentless intensity. Inter, needing a win to keep pressure on league leaders, started brightly but were twice pegged back by a resilient Bologna side. The Rossoblù, under the guidance of their tactically astute coach, refused to sit back and matched the Nerazzurri blow for blow.
Key Moments
- 12' – Inter strike first: Lautaro Martínez latched onto a through ball from Nicolò Barella and slotted coolly past the Bologna goalkeeper.
- 28' – Bologna equalise: A lightning counter-attack ended with Riccardo Orsolini curling a beauty into the top corner from the edge of the box.
- 41' – Inter retake the lead: Denzel Dumfries rose highest to meet a corner, powering a header into the net to make it 2–1 at half-time.
- 55' – Bologna's second: Joshua Zirkzee showed brilliant hold-up play before laying off to Lewis Ferguson, who smashed a first-time shot past Yann Sommer.
- 68' – Inter go 3–2 ahead: A stunning solo run from Marcus Thuram saw him dance past two defenders before firing low into the far corner.
- 82' – Dramatic equaliser: Bologna substitute Giovanni Fabbian scored against his former club, tapping in from a goalmouth scramble after a corner.
Tactical Story
Inter's 3-5-2 dominated possession early on, but Bologna's compact 4-2-3-1 frustrated them after the equaliser. The home side targeted Inter's vulnerable flanks on the break, with left-back Victor Kristiansen overlapping effectively. Simone Inzaghi's side lacked defensive sharpness in set-piece situations, conceding twice from dead-ball scenarios. Bologna's high press in the second half forced errors from Inter's midfield, leading to numerous chances.
Standout Players
- Lautaro Martínez (Inter): A constant menace, scoring once and hitting the post twice. His movement kept Bologna's defence on edge.
- Lewis Ferguson (Bologna): The Scottish midfielder ran the show in the middle of the park, scoring a stunning equaliser and winning duels across the pitch.
- Giovanni Fabbian (Bologna): The substitute's late goal against his parent club was a moment of pure drama, and he added energy that changed the game's flow.
Season Impact
The draw left Inter two points behind the Serie A summit with only three matches remaining. For seventh-placed Bologna, the result strengthened their claim for a European spot, keeping them in contention for a place in the UEFA Conference League. The fixture once again proved that the Renato Dall'Ara remains one of Italy's toughest away days.

