epa11306725 Udinese's Martin Payero scores the 0-1 goal during the Italian Serie A soccer match Bologna FC vs Udinese Calcio at Renato Dall'Ara stadium in Bologna, Italy, 28 April 2024. EPA-EFE/SERENA CAMPANINI
epa11306725 Udinese's Martin Payero scores the 0-1 goal during the Italian Serie A soccer match Bologna FC vs Udinese Calcio at Renato Dall'Ara stadium in Bologna, Italy, 28 April 2024. EPA-EFE/SERENA CAMPANINI

An audacious lobbed Alexis Saelemaekers free kick allowed 10-man Bologna to grab a point against Udinese, a result that does little to suit either team.

The Rossoblu had the opportunity to catch Juve in third place with a victory, but were missing Adama Soumaoro and long-term absentee Lewis Ferguson. The Friulani lost their mini match with Roma on Thursday, the debut for new coach Fabio Cannavaro, and risked being sucked back into the bottom three. Sandi Lovric, Florian Thauvin, Enzo Ebosse and Gerard Deulofeu didn’t make the trip.

See how it unfolded on the Liveblog.

Joshua Zirkzee saw his strike from the edge of the area deflected wide and Lukasz Skorupski got away with a mistimed punch on the Victor Kristiansen header.

It was Udinese who took the shock lead in first half stoppages when Bologna were caught playing out from the back with Remo Freuler bullied off the ball, Lorenzo Lucca’s shot was deflected into the path of a Martin Payero tap-in.

The Friulani almost got a second, the Lazar Samardzic free kick flashing across the six-yard box and Lucca unable to get the final touch at the back post.

Bologna threw on Riccardo Orsolini and took a more aggressive approach, but the first shots on target were weak Michel Aebischer and Dan Ndoye scuffed finishes into the arms of Maduka Okoye.

It got even worse for the hosts, as Sam Beukema wiped out Lazar Samardzic on the counter-attack for his second yellow card, reducing Bologna to 10 men.

Samardzic stung Skorupski’s gloves from distance and Ndoye failed to make the most of an inspired build-up from Zirkzee, but the 10 men did get back on level terms with a moment of magic.

Saelemaekers spotted Okoye off his line and floated a free kick beyond everyone into the far top corner, as the goalkeeper flailed backwards.

The Belgian threatened to turn it around completely, as first he saw Okoye smother the low finish, then fired over from the edge of the box.

Bologna were trying to win it in stoppages, leaving gaps at the back that Udinese almost made the most of, as Keinan Davis saw his curler smash against the far post, then Skorupski got his gloves to another strike.

Bologna 1-1 Udinese

Payero 45 (U), Saelemaekers 77 (B)

Sent off: Beukema 64 (B)

28-04-2024 14:00
MatchDay 34

Player statistic

1st half
    42' Yellow card Kingsley Ehizibue
    45+1' Goal Martín Payero
2nd half
    50' Yellow card Maduka Okoye
    53' Yellow card Lorenzo Lucca
Sam Beukema Yellow card 55'    
Sam Beukema Yellow-Red card 64'    
    68' Yellow card Nehuén Pérez
Joshua Zirkzee Yellow card 75'    
Alexis Saelemaekers Goal 78'    
    82' Yellow card Martín Payero
    89' Yellow card Keinan Davis
    90+2' Yellow card João Ferreira

Match statistic

65
Possession %
35
15
Total shots
11
4
Shots on target
4
4
Shots off target
4
7
Blocked shots
3
10
Corners
3
1
Offsides
1
11
Fouls
21
Bologna
Udinese

Starting lineups

28
Goalkeeper
26
Defender
31
Defender
3
Defender
68'
15
56
Midfielder
20
Midfielder
17
Midfielder
46'
8
Midfielder
11
Attacker
87'
9
Attacker
87'
40
Goalkeeper
12
Defender
87'
29
Defender
19
60'
18
Defender
31
24
Midfielder
32
Midfielder
87'
37
Midfielder
69'
11
Midfielder
17
Attacker
69'

Substitutes

33
29
82
Midfielder
23
Goalkeeper
34
Goalkeeper
6
Midfielder
10
Attacker
4
Defender
18
Attacker
7
46'
16
Defender
68'
22
87'
80
Midfielder
87'
7
Attacker
93
Goalkeeper
2
Defender
27
16
Defender
70
Goalkeeper
13
Defender
60'
6
Midfielder
69'
9
Attacker
69'
33
Defender
87'
22
Attacker
87'

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