Series A
7:45 p.mFebruary 23, 2026
Regular season – 26
Renato Dall’Ara Stadium
Referee: Matteo Marcenaro, Italy
bologna
Udinese
Turn off the spoiler to see match stats
1.27
Expected Goals (xG)
0.56
Passing by
258 (77%)
Accurate passes
316 (80%)
Turn off the spoiler to see the events of the match
1
G
Lukasz Skorupski
7.3
d
Juan Miranda
68′ missing
26
d
John Lucumí
7.6
41
d
Martin Vitík
6.9
17
d
Joao Mario
7.3
4
M
Tommaso escapes
6.9
8
M
Remo Freuler (C)
7.5
23
M
Simon Sohm
6.6
11
F
Jonathan Rowe
6.3
9
F
Santiago Castro
6.9
7
F
Riccardo Orsolini
7.3
40
G
Maduka Okoye
7.2
28
d
Oumar Solet
6.7
27
d
Christian Kabasele
6.2
31
d
Thomas Kristensen
6.9
33
M
Jordan Zemura
6.9
14
M
Arthur Atta
6.5
8
M
Jesper Karlström (C)
5.6
24
M
Jakub Piotrowski
6.2
19
M
Kingsley Ehizibue
6.3
F
Adam Buksa
62′ Unsportsmanlike conduct
10
F
Nicolò Zaniolo
5.9
Serie A classification – Serie A
Qualification/Relegation
- Promotion – Champions League (League phase)
- Promotion – Europa League (League phase)
- Promotion – Conference League (ranking)
- Relegation – Serie B
Federico Bernardeschi became the hero for Bologna, converting a late penalty to seal a crucial 1-0 win over Udinese at the Estadio Renato Dall’Ara.
The hard-fought Serie A clash on 23 February 2026 saw Bologna snap a challenging four-game losing streak. This vital win moved them up to 10th in the league standings, just ahead of their rivals.
Before kick-off, Bologna were in 11th place, struggling with poor form. 10th-placed Udinese have also struggled for consistency, having won just two of their last five matches. Both sides were desperate for points to get away from the congested mid-table.
The first half unfolded as a tight game, with neither team really asserting dominance. Udinese made an early change, bringing on N. Bertola for O. Solet in the 10th minute. Chances were very slim as both defenses held firm.
Although Udinese enjoyed 54% of possession, they struggled to create clear-cut chances. Bologna, with 46% possession, had more shots on goal. However, Udinese goalkeeper Maduka Okoye was alert, making four key saves to keep the scoreline goalless.
As the teams headed into the break, a tactical change was clearly needed. Bologna needed more attacking impetus, while Udinese needed to turn their possession into genuine threats to Łukasz Skorupski’s goal.
The Bologna manager responded with a triple substitution shortly before the hour mark, bringing on T. Pobega, J. Rowe and, most notably, Federico Bernardeschi, who replaced Riccardo Orsolini in the 56th minute. These changes immediately injected fresh energy into the home game.
The intensity of the match increased, marked by a yellow card for Udinese’s A. Buksa in the 62nd minute for unsportsmanlike conduct. Just six minutes later, Bologna’s J. Miranda was also booked for a foul. Udinese made another change, replacing Buksa in the 71st minute.
The breakthrough came in the 75th minute. Bernardeschi, having been on the pitch for less than 20 minutes, got up and coolly kicked a penalty, which thrilled the home crowd. The goal proved to be the decisive moment, rewarding Bologna’s persistent pressure.
Udinese pressed for an equalizer and made two more substitutions in the 80th minute. However, Bologna’s defence, coordinated effectively by Jhon Lucumí and Remo Freuler, held firm. Freuler particularly shone, making an impressive nine tackles throughout the game.
Bologna finished the game with 11 total shots, six of which tested the goaltender, accumulating an xG of 1.27. Udinese managed eight shots, with just two on target, resulting in an xG of 0.56. Bologna’s defensive resilience was evident as they limited Udinese’s attacking threat.
This narrow victory sees Bologna move up to 10th place with 33 points, a significant boost to their European aspirations. Udinese remain on 32 points, now in 11th place, and will be keen to bounce back in their next game.
