Serie A | Sassuolo 0-1 Bologna: Dallinga all smiles for Rossoblu victory

Thijs Dallinga decided the local derby and ensured Bologna consolidate eighth place, dooming Sassuolo to a second consecutive defeat.

This was not only a local Emilia-Romagna Derby, but also a head-to-head for European ambitions, as only one point separated eighth from ninth. Andrea Pinamonti returned from suspension for the hosts, who missed Alieu Fadera, Daniel Boloca, Fali Cande and Edoardo Pieragnolo after a run of three straight wins was ended by defeat to Lazio. Bologna also lost in Serie A last week and had Lewis Ferguson banned, but otherwise a full squad following Thursday’s 1-1 Europa League draw with Roma.

See how it all unfolded on the Liveblog.

It was the ideal start for Bologna, as within six minutes a Jens Odgaard shot was charged down and ricocheted into the path of Thijs Dallinga, who gathered with his back to goal and scored on the turn from just inside the area.

Sassuolo nearly equalised moments later, as Lukasz Skorupski flew to palm the Pinamonti effort away following a Jhon Lucumi slip.

Niccolò Cambiaghi drilled wide, but Lorenzo De Silvestri pulled up clutching his hamstring and limped off after just 29 minutes.

Nikola Moro’s free kick was just off target and Riccardo Orsolini only glanced his head to an Odgaard cross, then fired over from an improbable angle.

Odgaard tested Arijanet Muric after the restart, while Cristian Volpato forced a save after good work from Armand Laurienté.

Martin Vitik risked an own goal with a decisive interception to prevent M’Bala Nzola tapping in the Domenico Berardi roll across, while twice Laurienté went for goal when he had better options for the assist.

Orsolini also stung Muric’s gloves at the near post after a stepover, but Bologna lost Lukasz Skorupski to a suspected flexor strain at the 88^th minute, after completing all their substitutions. After several minutes of stoppages and a very heavy strapping on his left thigh, he managed to finish the game.

Sassuolo 0-1 Bologna

Dallinga 6 (B)