Bologna consolidated fourth place and closed the gap on Milan in third, as the Lewis Ferguson header sealed victory over Atalanta in this showdown for Europe.
Thiago Motta’s men were on a roll, climbing into fourth place beating Roma last week and then knocking holders Inter out of the Coppa Italia in extra time on Wednesday at San Siro. This was another showdown for Europe and the injury list was shrinking to just Jesper Karlsson and Adama Soumaoro. La Dea missed Rafael Toloi, Jose Luis Palomino and El Bilal Toure, but Gianluca Scamacca returned to the bench ahead of schedule.
Alexis Saelemaekers swept a curler over from outside the D and set up Lewis Ferguson for a strike charged down in the penalty area.
Ademola Lookman was sent clear on the counter by Charles De Ketelaere only to hit the side-netting one-on-one with Lukasz Skorupski.
Saelemaekers just failed to reach a cross under pressure from Hans Hateboer and Teun Koopmeiners nodded a De Ketelaere cross over the bar.
Bologna lost Dan Ndoye to a suspected hamstring strain and on the stroke of half-time Atalanta had a huge opportunity when Lookman sent Ederson through, denied only by brave Skorupski goalkeeping.
The pair combined again moments later, Lookman firing over from a tricky angle.
Giovanni Fabbian came on at half-time and threatened immediately, his half-volley over from the edge of the area.
However, Remo Freuler needed an absolutely crucial interception with his toes to take the Lookman roll across away from Koopmeiners for what would’ve been the simplest of tap-ins.
De Ketelaere stung Skorupski’s hands from distance and Lookman skimmed the upright with a daisy-cutter, but Zirkzee set it on a plate for Fabbian to blast over from 12 yards in a well-worked passing move.
Ferguson and Luis Muriel turned off target from promising positions, but the deadlock was finally broken when Orsolini – returning after a month out – curled a corner onto the head of relatively undisturbed Ferguson at the far post.
It is the sixth consecutive home win for Bologna, during which they conceded only one goal.
Bologna 1-0 Atalanta
Ferguson 86 (B)
Player statistic
| Stefan Posch |  |
30' |
| 69' | |
Marten de Roon | ||
| Remo Freuler | |
70' | ||
| 79' | |
Davide Zappacosta | ||
| Lewis Ferguson (Assist: Riccardo Orsolini) |
 |
86' | ||
| 88' | |
Hans Hateboer | ||
| 90+5' | |
Gianluca Scamacca |
Match statistic
