Defeat at Bologna rocks Inter to leave Napoli 18 points clear on top of Serie A

Internazionale suffered a costly 1-0 defeat at Bologna on Sunday that virtually ended their slim hopes of winning the Serie A title.

At the same ground where their title aspirations were dealt a decisive blow last season, Riccardo Orsolini’s goal condemned Inter to another loss. Simone Inzaghi’s team are second in the standings on 47 points from 24 matches, 18 behind leaders Napoli, who beat Empoli 2-0 on Saturday. Inter will also be looking over their shoulders with concern at Roma and Milan, who are third and fourth respectively and level on 44 points. Bologna are seventh on 35 points.

Bologna thought they had taken the lead at a rain-sodden Stadio Renato Dall’Ara through Musa Barrow in the 12th minute, only for the effort to be ruled out following a VAR review. Minutes later, Roberto Soriano rattled the woodwork on the rebound after André Onana had parried Andrea Cambiaso’s volley into his path.

Inzaghi, missing Federico Dimarco, Milan Skriniar and Joaquin Correa due to injury, rested Nicolò Barella among a raft of changes from their midweek Champions League win against Porto, and his much-changed team lacked fluidity. They had brief spells of possession in the first half, but created few clear-cut chances as Lautaro Martínez headed an Alessandro Bastoni cross just wide of the target and Henrikh Mkhitaryan twice fired over the bar.

Bologna continued to press forward after the break, and Onana kept his side in the game with two crucial saves in quick succession, getting a hand to a Soriano shot before smothering Dominguez’s effort from the edge of the area.

Romelu Lukaku and substitute Edin Dzeko each had a shot on target, but it was Bologna who broke the deadlock in the 76th minute when Orsolini raced on to Jerdy