Rey Manaj gave an early lead to Spezia before Marko Arnautovic equalised on 40 minutes and and scored the winner six minutes from time.
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Marko Arnautovic scored a double as Bologna defeated Spezia 2-1 in the Serie A fixture at Renato Dall’Ara on Monday. Although it was the visitors who broke the deadlock early in the first half through Rej Manaj, Arnautovic equalised for Bologna five minutes before the break. Sinisa Mihajlovic’s side left it late as Arnautovic completed his brace six minutes from time and secured all three points for the hosts. The win helped Bologna to move to 12th spot with 31 points from 25 games while Spezia remained at the 15th place with 26 points from as many games, just four points above the relegation zone.
Also read: Cagliari vs Napoli: Victor Osimhen’s late goal rescues a point for Luciano Spalletti’s side
WE MOOOOOVE! ?#BolognaSpezia #WeAreOne pic.twitter.com/Kyc8ZAQnHn
— Bologna FC 1909 (@BolognaFC1909en) February 21, 2022
Spezia started the match brightly and created a couple of chances inside the opening 10 minutes. Daniele Verde tested Bologna keeper Lukasz Skorupski from the edge of the box. At the other end, Arnautovic’s powerful strike from outside the penalty area rattled the crossbar.
Spezia deservedly took the lead on 11 minutes when Manaj headed home from left-back Arkadiusz Reca’s cross. The Albanian striker went ahead of defender Arthur Theate and headed the ball past Skorupski into the net.
In response, Musa Barrow’s effort from the left side of the box was comfortably kept out by Ivan Provedel at the near post. Arnautovic equalised on 40 minutes when he slotted home from Barrow’s through ball. Bologna finished the half stronger as Ricardo Ossolini forced a full-stretch diving save from Provedel.
Bologna carried the momentum to the second half as Barrow’s long-ranger was spilled by Provedel before Ossolini went past Jakub Kiwior on the right side of the box but fired his effort over the bar.
The home side were desperately pushing hard for the winner and deservedly got it on 84 minutes. Substitute Nocola Sansone cut inside from the left before delivering an in-swinging cross for Arnautovic to head home at the far post.
In the other match of the day, Napoli rescued a point against Cagliari courtesy of Victor Osimhen’s later goal. Luciano Spalletti’s side went 1-0 behind when Gaston Pereiro netted on 58 minutes. But the visitors fought back to level the score in 87minutes, when Osimhen headed home from left-back Mario Rui’s cross.
The result helped Napoli to 54 points from 26 games, level on points with second-placed Inter Milan, who have a game in hand and two points adrift the leaders AC Milan.
