The players are out on the pitch, and kick-off is just moments away!
0'
Napoli have won nine of their last 12 home Serie A games against Bologna (L3); however, Bologna have won two of the last three. The hosts have also failed to score in three of their last six Serie A matches against today’s opponents, after an uninterrupted run of 20 consecutive games scoring against them, during which the Partenopei netted 55 goals, an average of 2.75 per match.
0'
Napoli have made three changes after the Inter loss, as Milinkovic-Savic, Gilmour, and De Bruyne replace Alisson Santos, Alex Meret, and Anguissa. Meanwhile, Bologna have also made three switches from a 2-2 draw with Sassuolo. Out go Skorupski, Alhassane, and Odgaard, who are replaced by Pessina, Miranda and Amondarain.
0'
BOLOGNA SUBS: Lukasz Skorupski, Eivind Helland, Nikola Moro, Samuel Mbangula, Nicolo Casale, Marco Libra, Jens Odgaard, Jay Enem, Rahim Alhassane, Lorenzo De Silvestri, Martin Vitik, Matteo Franceschelli.
0'
BOLOGNA (4-3-3): Massimo Pessina; Emil Holm, Arthur Theate, Torbjorn Heggem, Juan Miranda; Tommaso Pobega, Lewis Ferguson, Mikel Amondarain; Federico Bernardeschi, Roberto Piccoli, Nicolo Cambiaghi.
0'
NAPOLI SUBS: Costantino Favasuli, Benoit Badiashile, David Neres, Claudio Pugliese, Nikita Contini, Mathias Olivera, Lorenzo Lucca, Sam Beukema, Noa Lang.
0'
NAPOLI (4-3-3): Vanja Milinkovic-Savic; Giovanni Di Lorenzo, Rafa Marin, Amir Rrahmani, Leonardo Spinazzola; Billy Gilmour, Stanislav Lobotka, Kevin De Bruyne; Matteo Politano, Rasmus Hojlund, Antonio Vergara.
0'
Meanwhile, Bologna are one of six teams still without a win in Serie A this season (D1, L2) and have scored just two goals in the current campaign; the Rossoblu have not scored fewer than three goals in their first four matches of the season since 2018-19 (zero on that occasion). Still, despite losing their last away game against Atalanta, Bologna have won six of their last eight Serie A away matches (L2); since February, only Como (seven) have won more, while Inter and AC Milan have also won six.
0'
Hosts Napoli come into this one hoping to end a three-match losing streak in all competitions. A 1-0 defeat to Arsenal in the Champions League on Wednesday followed losses to Inter and Como, meaning a 2-0 win at Genoa on the opening weekend remains Napoli’s only Serie A win so far this term. They have not registered three consecutive defeats in the competition since January 2020, under Gennaro Gattuso.
0'
Hello and welcome to our live coverage of this Serie A clash between Napoli and Bologna!
0'
Referee Kevin Bonacina blows his whistle, and the action is underway!
1'
EARLY CHANCE FOR NAPOLI!! The hosts could easily find themselves a goal up as De Bruyne whips a lovely ball into the Bologna box. The cross finds the head of Vergara, but he can't direct his effort on target, and the ball sails over the crossbar.
3'
Both sides could do with the three points today, given their recent form. Napoli have lost all of their last three in all competitions, while Bologna are still searching for their first Serie A win of the season.
3'
Napoli have started well on the ball, seeing 57.4% of possession since kick-off.
5'
Goal Arthur Theate
7'
Results might not have been great, but Napoli have still scored two goals in all three of their Serie A outings so far. They'll be eager to continue that run today.
7'
BOLOGNA SCORE...BUT IT WON'T COUNT!! The visitors think they've taken the lead as Theate heads in from Ferguson's free-kick, but VAR swiftly rules the goal out for offside. That's a shame, because it was a thunderous header from Theate, but the Belgian went a tad early with his run, and the score remains 0-0.
8'
Huge credit has to go to Ferguson, whose cross was a delicious one to tee up Theate. What a goal that would have been had it not been ruled out for offside.
10'
Napoli made a solid start on the ball, but Bologna have definitely come into the game in the last few minutes.
12'
CHANCE FOR DE BRUYNE!! The Napoli midfielder has made a bright start, but will be disappointed not to hit the target after being found by Spinazzola just inside the Bologna box. De Bruyne tried to side-foot the ball into the top right-hand corner, but his accuracy was a tad off, and the ball whistled just past the post.
14'
Neither side has hit the target inside the first 16 minutes. In fact, Bologna are still awaiting their first official shot of the game, even though Theate had an early goal ruled out for offside.
16'
Napoli continue to see the majority of the ball (they've had 59.7% of possession so far), but Bologna are keeping them at bay for now.
18'
HOW HAS THAT NOT GONE IN?! Napoli are inches away from taking the lead as Politano plays a fizzing ball into the box. Both Heggem and Pessina then come out to meet it, with hopes of clearing for Bologna, only to make a complete mess of it. Instead, the ball bounces off the visiting defender and flies just wide of the far post. That was so, so close.
18'
Napoli have now had three shots on goal so far, yet none of them have been on target.
20'
The hosts have made double (10) the number of final third entries put up by Bologna (five) so far. Napoli are definitely the side on top, yet the score remains 0-0 with 22 minutes on the clock.
22'
Only three sides boasted a better away record than Bologna last season. The visitors have lost their only game on the road this season, though. (1-0 at Atalanta at the end of last month).
24'
The game pauses for a cooling break midway through what has been a relatively uneventful half. Napoli have had a few chances, and Bologna had a goal disallowed, but the tempo of the match has been a tad slow so far.
26'
Play resumes after the cooling break with both sides still searching for a breakthrough.
28'
Bernardeschi looks to find Piccoli in the Napoli box, but the latter's touch is a loose one and the home side clear the danger. Not much has stuck up top for Bologna so far.
29'
Yellow Card Mikel Amondarain
31'
Bologna's Amondarain receives the first yellow card of the game for a late challenge on Rrahmani on the halfway line.
31'
Napoli get forward again as De Bruyne crosses from the right. Bologna partially clear, and the ball spills out to Spinazzola, who lets fly with a wild right-footed effort from outside the box. There's far too much behind the shot, though, which sails high into the crowd.
31'
Napoli's best chances have come from launching crosses into the Bologna box, mainly from De Bruyne. He will be key if the hosts are to find a breakthrough.
33'
Miranda crosses deep from the left and finds Amondarain, but the latter can't decide whether to shoot or lay the ball off, and is quickly swarmed by Napoli defenders before the danger passes. Bologna have to react quicker in those types of situations if they're to land a blow.
34'
There still hasn't been a shot on target from either side so far.
36'
Napoli win a corner down the left as Holm turns Vergara's attempted cross behind. De Bruyne can't beat the first man with his cross, though, and Bologna survive.
37'
Bernardeschi finds himself in space in the right channel and decides to shoot with his left. The Italian slightly drags the effort, though, which bobbles into the grateful hands of Milinkovic-Savic. That's the first shot on target either team has had so far.
39'
Napoli win another corner down the left, but once again De Bruyne's cross is cleared as Pessina gets up to punch it away.
41'
Bologna get forward again as Cambiaghi looks to carve an opening down the left. The Italian cuts inside onto his right before finding Pobega on the edge of the box, but the latter's first-time shot flies high into the crowd, and the danger passes.
42'
The game has lacked real quality in the final third so far. Both sides have found themselves in decent positions, but they've not been able to do anything with them as of yet.
44'
There will be three minutes of added time at the end of the first half. Still some time for either team to score an opener before the break.
45'
There will be three minutes of added time at the end of the first half. Still some time for either team to score an opener before the break.
45'
Bernardeschi looks to wriggle his way into the Napoli box down the right, but the Italian quickly runs out of room, and the hosts snuff out the danger.
45'
HALF-TIME: NAPOLI 0-0 BOLOGNA
45'
Pobega tries his luck with another audacious left-footed effort from range, but this time the ball bobbles into the hands of Milinkovic-Savic. Bologna are enjoying a strong finish at the end of the first half.
45'
Referee Bonacina brings an end to a drab first half of football as Napoli and Bologna head into the break at 0-0. Neither side has particularly impressed, though Bologna thought they'd bagged an opener after just seven minutes. Ferguson delivered a wonderful cross into the box from a free-kick, which Theate then met with a thunderous header, only for the latter to be caught in an offside position by VAR. Napoli then looked to rub salt in the wound, but De Bruyne was unable to hit the target in the box on 14 minutes. Hojlund almost found the far post with an unorthodox effort four minutes later, only for the ball to whistle just wide, meaning Napoli are still searching for their first shot on target in this game.
0'
Napoli recorded 0.84 xG in the first half, despite not having a single shot on target. Meanwhile, Bologna put up just 0.08, but definitely grew into the game the longer the half progressed. Still, the Opta supercomputer is only giving Napoli a 44.1% chance of victory at the break, while the away win comes in at just 19.4%. The draw currently sits at 36.5%.
0'
Substitution Antonio Vergara Noa Lang
46'
Napoli's Politano also goes off for Favasuli.
46'
Napoli make a change ahead of the second half, with Lang replacing Vergara.
46'
The players are back out, and the second half is underway.
46'
Napoli make two changes ahead of the second half, with Lang replacing Vergara.
46'
Lang almost makes an instant impact seconds after coming on as he drives inside from the left. The Dutchman then looks to fire the ball into the bottom right-hand corner, but the accuracy isn't there and the ball flies behind for a goal-kick.
46'
Lang might not have hit the target there, but the pace and directness he showed will be needed if Napoli are to improve on their limp first half performance.
48'
More positive work by Lang, who wins Napoli a corner down the left. De Bruyne then takes it short to Gilmour, who returns the ball to the Belgian, but De Bruyne's follow-up cross flies straight into the hands of Pessina.
49'
De Bruyne's deliveries into the box haven't been up to scratch so far. Napoli win yet another corner, this time down the right, but De Bruyne's cross is cleared once again by the visitors.
51'
Napoli are definitely showing more signs of urgency at the start of the second half. Bologna have a storm to ride out here...
53'
The home side have had a whopping 74.4% of possession since the break. And yet the score remains 0-0 with 55 minutes on the clock...
55'
Napoli are still searching for their first shot on target in this game. Lang has definitely looked promising since coming on, but the hosts are still struggling to carve out a significant opening as of now.
57'
Bologna's Libra also replaces Pobega.
58'
Bologna make their first changes, as Odgaard comes on for Piccoli.
58'
Those Bologna changes make sense. They've been pinned back much more since the second half started - Tarozzi had to react.
59'
BETTER FROM DE BRUYNE!! The Napoli midfielder looks to drag his side in front as he slaloms his way into the Bologna box. Ferguson gets across to make a crucial block just as De Bruyne was letting fly, though, and the chance is snuffed out.
59'
Bologna have made just FIVE final third entries in the second half, compared to the 17 put up by Napoli. It's one-way traffic right now.
61'
HOJLUND GOES CLOSE!! The Napoli attacks keep on coming as Favasuli finds the Dane in the Bologna box. Hojlund then turns before shooting with his left, but Heggem gets a block in, and the ball bobbles wide of the post. Another chance goes begging...
63'
Bologna haven't had a single touch in the Napoli box in the second half.
65'
Goal Stanislav Lobotka
66'
Assist Costantino Favasuli
66'
Bologna make another change, as Moro replaces Amondarain.
66'
FINALLY NAPOLI SCORE AN OPENER!! They've been made to work hard for it, but the hosts finally get their reward as De Bruyne frees Favasuli down the right. The latter then plays a simple ball into the box, which Lobotka guides home with his right foot. Brilliant move, brilliant goal! Napoli 1-0 Bologna!
66'
Favasuli does brilliantly to find space on the right flank before teeing up Lobotka, who makes no mistake from close range.
66'
Bologna have failed to win any of their last 10 matches when conceding first in Serie A, since a victory over Hellas Verona in January. The visitors now have a mountain to climb if they're to turn this around and claim their first win of the new season...
68'
Credit to Napoli. They emerged a completely different team after half-time and have absolutely swarmed all over Bologna since. The hosts are more than deserving of the lead.
70'
PESSINA KEEPS BOLOGNA IN IT!! Napoli almost bag a second after a lovely exchange between Lobotka and De Bruyne. The Belgian plays a quick one-two with the Napoli goalscorer, who then returns the ball to De Bruyne in the box. The latter then looks to dink it over the oncoming Pessina, but he's able to get a hand in the way to make the save. That would've sealed the three points for the hosts, but Bologna remain in with a shout... for now.
70'
The second half pauses for another cooling break, with Napoli on course to return to winning ways. Bologna have hardly had a kick in the second half.
72'
Play has now resumed with 73 minutes on the clock. Bologna have it all to do if they're to somehow claw their way back into this.
73'
Substitution Rasmus Højlund Lorenzo Lucca
75'
Napoli make another change, as Lucca replaces Hojlund.
75'
Bologna haven't had a single shot in the second half. In fact, the visitors have only made 76 passes since the break, compared to the 165 recorded by Napoli.
77'
Nothing has changed in terms of Bologna's approach since the goal. Surely they'll have to start taking a few risks soon.
79'
Napoli look so comfortable right now. Bologna haven't even remotely threatened in the second half.
81'
Substitution Federico Bernardeschi Jay Enem
82'
Substitution Nicolò Cambiaghi Samuel Mbangula
82'
Bologna also take off Bernardeschi and bring on Enem.
82'
Bologna make another switch, with Cambiaghi going off for Mbangula.
82'
The visitors finally look like they're going to start taking a few risks. They still haven't had a shot on target in the second half.
84'
Moro looks to thread the ball through to Odgaard in the Napoli box, but there was too much behind the pass, and Milinkovic-Savic gathers the ball in his hands. Better from Bologna, though.
85'
CHANCE FOR MBANGULA!! Wow, Bologna should be level. It's a superb move from the visitors, as Mbangula finds Libra in the Napoli box. The latter then shifts it to Enem, who returns the ball to Mbangula, but his right-footed effort is straight at Milinkovic-Savic. Mbangula HAS to be doing better there - either side of the goalkeeper and it's in!
87'
Napoli take off De Bruyne, who's replaced by Olivera for the final few minutes.
88'
Bologna have definitely improved in the last couple of minutes. Can they make it count, though?
90'
ANOTHER SAVE FROM PESSINA!! Now Napoli get forward as Favasuli works an angle down the right before shooting. Pessina stands up to it, though, and palms the ball away.
90'
There will be FIVE minutes of stoppage time. Still time for a late twist...
90'
This is all about game management for Napoli now. If they control the ball as they have for most of this game, then they'll be fine.
90'
Momentum has swung back in favour of Napoli now. Bologna can't get out of their own half.
90'
Lineups
Napoli (4-3-3) coached by Massimiliano Allegri
Vanja Milinkovic-Savic, Giovanni Di Lorenzo, Amir Rrahmani, Rafa Marín, Leonardo Spinazzola, Billy Gilmour, Stanislav Lobotka, Antonio Vergara, Matteo Politano, Rasmus Höjlund, David Neres
Bologna (4-2-3-1) coached by Andrea Tarozzi
Lukasz Skorupski, Emil Holm, Torbjörn Heggem, Arthur Theate, Juan Miranda, Tommaso Pobega, Lewis Ferguson, Federico Bernardeschi, Jens Odgaard, Nicolò Cambiaghi, Roberto Piccoli