Napoli have fallen even further behind leaders Inter after another disappointing draw away to Bologna, as Victor Osimhen fired a penalty off target and then argued with coach Rudi Garcia.
The Partenopei had one point from their last two Serie A games and scraped a Champions League win away to SC Braga midweek thanks to an own goal, but with Amir Rrahmani and Juan Jesus injured, Natan received his Serie A debut in defence. Adama Soumaoro was the only remaining absentee for the hosts, as Alexis Saelemaekers returned to the bench after a three-game unbeaten run.
Victor Osimhen thought he had scored after five minutes when running onto the Giacomo Raspadori ball over the top, but the ferocious strike from a tight angle was fingertipped onto the inside of the far post by Lukasz Skorupski.
Bologna were lucky then, but unfortunate moments later as Stefan Posch pulled up clutching the back of his thigh and had to be replaced by Lorenzo De Silvestri.
Skorupski fumbled a cross after a foul from Leo Ostigard, though it took a while for the referee to eventually stop play, while Matias Olivera ran a risk in his collision with Remo Freuler in the penalty area.
Kvicha Kvaratskhelia saw his shot smothered by Skorupski at the near post, while Raspadori blasted inches over the crossbar.
After the restart, Lorenzo De Silvestri prevented Kvaratskhelia going clear on goal from an Osimhen assist, then the Georgian and Osimhen forced saves from a tricky angle.
The hosts lost another defender to injury, Jhon Lucumi, and gave Alexis Saelemaekers his debut.
The game was all set to turn when Zielinski squeezed a pass through for Kvaratskhelia, who rolled across for the Osimhen tap-in, but Riccardo Calafiori stumbled and fell onto the ball, pushing it away. A penalty was inevitable and Osimhen stepped up, only to blast the spot-kick well wide of the target.
Bologna were revitalised by that let-off and Joshua Zirkzee stung Alex Meret’s gloves at the near post after nutmegging Ostigard.
Rudi Garcia has not won over the Napoli fans, as became even more evident when they loudly jeered his decisions to substitute first Kvaratskhelia and then Osimhen. The Nigerian striker also seemed furious at the call to come off for Giovanni Simeone with four minutes plus stoppages still left, telling Garcia that he wanted two strikers to go for the win.
There was drama in stoppages too, as a Bologna free kick fell to Saelemaekers, his shot was charged down by Anguissa’s arm and the referee was pointing to the spot until he was informed of an offside and changed his mind.
Bologna 0-0 Napoli
Missed penalty: Osimhen 73 (N)
Player statistic
| 6' |  |
Mathías Olivera | ||
| Michel Aebischer | |
30' |
| 49' | |
Stanislav Lobotka | ||
| 53' | |
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia | ||
| Dan Ndoye | |
55' | ||
| Lukasz Skorupski | |
72' | ||
| 72' |  |
Victor Osimhen | ||
| Remo Freuler | |
81' | ||
| 81' | |
Matteo Politano | ||
| 90+4' | |
Mário Rui |
Match statistic
