Bologna are now within a point of Roma in the Serie A table after Mattias Svanberg’s scorcher, but Tammy Abraham was distraught at a yellow card and Lukasz Skorupski performed heroics.
The Giallorossi had Bryan Cristante back on the bench after COVID-19, but missing Felix Afena-Gyan and Gonzalo Villar with the virus. Lorenzo Pellegrini was ruled out until the New Year by a thigh strain, but Jordan Veretout returned from suspension. Sinisa Mihajlovic’s men missed Jerdy Schouten and Ibrahima Mbaye.
It was a rough start for the hosts, because Marko Arnautovic limped off in the opening minutes.
Tammy Abraham should’ve done better with a header wide from six yards on the Rick Karsdorp cross from the right, while Lukasz Skorupski needed treatment after a collision with Gianluca Mancini.
Bologna took the lead with a stunning goal out of nowhere, as Mattias Svanberg unleashed a long-range right-foot strike that bent viciously around a defender and into the far bottom corner beyond Rui Patricio’s fingertips.
Skorupski had to arch backwards and acrobatically flap a strange Abraham effort out from under the bar, as the Roma striker had his back to goal.
Abraham was left positively distraught after receiving a soft yellow card on the stroke of half-time. It seemed to be an accidental collision with Svanberg, but it means the Roma striker will be suspended for the massive showdown against Inter.
Stephan El Shaarawy went off after an awkward fall, while Abraham’s misplaced pass ruined a good potential Roma attack and Skorupski was right behind the Henrikh Mkhitaryan snapshot. Another attempt from the Armenian looped onto the roof of the net and Nicolò Zaniolo was booked for simulation when going down too easily between defenders.
Abraham’s free kick whistled wide and Mkhitaryan was tripped in the box, but had wandered offside, so there was no penalty.
Skorupski had his gloves stung by Abraham, while Zaniolo threw himself at Matias Vina’s cross and couldn’t quite get there.
Rick Karsdorp got into a row with Nicola Sansone in stoppages, was booked and he too will be suspended against Inter.
Bologna 1-0 Roma
Svanberg 35 (B)