Bologna's Riccardo Orsolini celebrates after scoring during the Italian Serie A soccer match between Bologna and Cagliari at the Renato Dall'Ara Stadium, in Bologna, Italy, Sunday, March 2, 2025. (Michele Nucci/LaPresse via AP)

Bologna beats Cagliari to boost hopes of top-four finish in Serie A

MILAN (AP) — Riccardo Orsolini scored twice to help Bologna boost its chances of qualifying for the Champions League again.

Bologna fought back to beat relegation-threatened Cagliari 2-1 in Serie A and move within two points of fourth-placed Juventus.

Lazio is level with Bologna on points and plays at beleaguered AC Milan later Sunday.

Claudio Ranieri’s Roma also rallied to win 2-1 against 10-man Como.

Cagliari surprisingly reached the break ahead in Bologna after Roberto Piccoli’s 22nd-minute header.

Bologna’s Riccardo Orsolini scores during the Italian Serie A soccer match between Bologna and Cagliari at the Renato Dall’Ara Stadium, in Bologna, Italy, Sunday, March 2, 2025. (Michele Nucci/LaPresse via AP)

But Bologna coach Vincenzo Italiano made three changes at halftime and his team leveled almost immediately as Orsolini converted a penalty after Cagliari midfielder Mattia Felici fouled Nicolò Cambiaghi — one of those substitutes.

Cambiaghi also rolled the ball across for Orsolini to tap in and complete the turnaround eight minutes later.

Cagliari is three points above the relegation zone.

Impact subs

Substitute Alexis Saelemaekers took just 120 seconds to help Roma turn the match round.

Bologna’s Riccardo Orsolini, right, celebrates after scoring during the Italian Serie A soccer match between Bologna and Cagliari at the Renato Dall’Ara Stadium, in Bologna, Italy, Sunday, March 2, 2025. (Michele Nucci/LaPresse via AP)

Roma was trailing at home to Como following Lucas Da Cunha’s goal on the stroke of halftime.

But the match changed in the 61st minute. Saelemaekers, who had only just come off the bench, played a one-two with Zeki Çelik and then a stroke of luck saw his effort deflected by Como defender Edoardo Goldaniga, going in off the underside of the crossbar.

It quickly got worse for Como as it almost immediately went down to 10 men when defender Marc-Oliver Kempf was sent off following a second yellow card.

Halftime substitute Artem Dovbyk scored the winner in the 76th, volleying in a cross from Devyne Rensch — who had been on the field for less than two minutes.

It was Roma’s 11th league match unbeaten since a loss at Como on Dec. 15 and sent Ranieri’s team up to eighth, six points below Juventus.

Cagliari’s Roberto Piccoli celebrates after scoring during the Italian Serie A soccer match between Bologna and Cagliari at the Renato Dall’Ara Stadium, in Bologna, Italy, Sunday, March 2, 2025. (Michele Nucci/LaPresse via AP)

Empoli, which surprisingly knocked defending champion Juventus out of the Italian Cup midweek, drew 1-1 at Genoa to remain in the bottom three, one point from safety.

Torino won 2-0 at bottom club Monza.

Roma’s Artem Dovbyk celebrates after scoring his side’s second goal during the Serie A soccer match between AS Roma and Como 1907 in Rome, Italy, Sunday, March 2, 2025. (Alfredo Falcone/LaPresse via AP)
Roma’s Manu Kone, right, and Como’s Lucas Da Cunha, left, challenge for the ball during the Serie A soccer match between AS Roma and Como 1907 in Rome, Italy, Sunday, March 2, 2025. (Alfredo Falcone/LaPresse via AP)

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