PRIMAVERA SECURE HISTORIC PLAYOFF PLACE
The Primavera side have written a new chapter in the Club’s history: for the first time since the league’s reform in the 2017-18 season, the team has secured a place in the playoff phase following a thrilling campaign – with still 90 minutes left to play – sealed by this afternoon’s 2-2 draw against Cagliari. The 59 points accumulated so far guarantee fifth place in the standings and a ticket to the quarter-finals.
It has been a magnificent season to date, both in terms of results – 16 wins, 11 draws and 10 defeats – and, even more so, in the development of the players under Stefano Morrone, in his first season in charge of the Under-20 side. Across 37 matchdays, no fewer than 44 players have featured for at least one minute, highlighting the pathway within the academy, with seven players promoted from the Under-18s during the season: Luca Lo Monaco, Riccardo Gnudi, Marco Libra Alvarado, Niccolò Rossitto, Max Vincenzo Anastasio, Christian Briguglio and Leoš Tupec, all born in 2008.
While the side have shown impressive collective quality in attack – scoring 52 goals shared between 15 different players, with Luca Lo Monaco leading the way on eight – the defence has also demonstrated remarkable solidity and unity, conceding just 39 goals and recording 10 clean sheets.
What lies ahead in the playoffs will only become clear after the final league fixture away to Cremonese. Should Lai and his teammates finish in fourth place, they will host Roma on Thursday 21 May in the quarter-finals. A fifth- or sixth-place finish, meanwhile, would see them face Roma away or the side finishing third, respectively. Any potential semi-finals (24 or 25 May) and the final (28 May) will then take place at Viola Park in Bagno a Ripoli.
As for today’s match, Bologna struck after just five minutes through Negri, who reacted quickest inside the penalty area and fired a left-footed effort that beat Kehayov. Just four minutes later, however, Trepy restored parity, converting from close range after Happonen had initially saved a penalty. In the 56th minute, Saputo picked out Negri superbly in the area, but after controlling the ball and shaping to finish with his left foot, the forward was denied by a crucial Cagliari block. Negri would not be denied for long, though, curling home a superb left-footed effort on 64 minutes to restore Bologna’s lead. The visitors responded again three minutes later, with Cogoni finding the net from a corner to make it 2-2. With eight minutes remaining, Negri won a penalty, but substitute Jaku was unable to convert as Kehayov guessed correctly, diving low to his left.
Next up is the final league fixture away to Cremonese, with date and kick-off time still to be confirmed.
Bologna 2-2 Cagliari
BOLOGNA: Happonen; Nesi, Tomasevic, Papazov; Negri (85’ Anastasio), N’Diaye (71’ Francioli), Nordvall (60’ Libra), Lai; Lo Monaco, Saputo (71’ Jaku); Castaldo (71’ Ravaglioli).
Substitutes: Gnudi, Briguglio, Tupec, Castillo, Pantaleoni, Rossitto.
Head Coach: Morrone
CAGLIARI: Kehayov; Cogoni, Franke, Marini; Raterink (84’ Goryanov), Grandu, Malfitano (65’ Lo Verde), Tronci (83’ Skjold); Sugamele (46’ Russo), Trepy, Costa (59’ Cardu).
Substitutes: Sarno, Hamdaoua, Prettenhoffer, Piredda, Nunn.
Head Coach: Gallego
Referee: Aldi (Lanciano)
Goals: 5’, 64’ Negri (B), 9’ Trepy (C), 67’ Cogoni (C)
Booked: Franke (C), Lai (B)