Napoli’s hopes of closing the gap on Serie A leaders Inter Milan were dashed on Monday evening as Dan Ndoye’s audacious flick earned Bologna a 1-1 draw at the Stadio Renato Dall’Ara.
With Inter having dropped points in a 2-2 draw against Parma over the weekend, the door was open for Napoli to move within just one point of the summit. And they looked to be taking full advantage when Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa opened the scoring with a solo stunner in the 18th minute, dancing through Bologna’s midfield and rounding goalkeeper Lukasz Skorupski before slotting home.
Napoli nearly extended their lead moments later. Winger Matteo Politano rounded substitute keeper Federico Ravaglia—who had replaced the injured Skorupski—but the stand-in stopper recovered brilliantly to block Politano’s attempt, keeping Bologna in the game.
The second half told a different story as Bologna came out revitalized. Napoli, perhaps missing the presence of suspended manager Antonio Conte on the touchline, began to sit back, inviting pressure. That pressure paid off in the 64th minute with a piece of individual brilliance from Ndoye.
Meeting Jens Odgaard’s low cross at the near post, the Swiss international executed a dazzling flick with his left heel. The ball looped over Simone Scuffet and bounced in off the underside of the crossbar, sending the home crowd into raptures and marking Ndoye’s eighth goal of the season.
Bologna pushed for a winner and nearly found one in the 90th minute when Scuffet’s save from Emil Holm’s header fell to Santiago Castro, who inexplicably missed from just two yards out. Napoli, too, had a late chance of their own. Amir Rrahmani’s low cross flew across the face of goal in stoppage time but narrowly evaded both Romelu Lukaku and Anguissa.
The draw leaves Napoli three points behind Inter with seven games remaining in the season, while Bologna—unbeaten in their last five—remain firmly in the hunt for Champions League qualification, narrowly missing the chance to overtake Atalanta for third.
With the title race heating up and European places on the line, both teams will feel a mix of frustration and relief after a pulsating night in Bologna.
