Napoli’s hopes of narrowing the gap on Serie A leaders Inter Milan were thwarted as Bologna snatched a 1-1 draw thanks to a dazzling display by Dan Ndoye on Monday evening at Stadio Renato Dall’Ara.
The visitors seized an early advantage in the 18th minute through Andre-Frank Anguissa’s breathtaking solo effort.
Gliding past Bologna’s defense, Anguissa rounded goalkeeper Lukasz Skorupski to fire home, giving Napoli fans reason to dream of reducing Inter’s lead to just one point.
Mateo Politano almost added to Napoli’s tally, but Federico Ravaglia—stepping in after Skorupski’s injury—came to Bologna’s rescue with a remarkable recovery.
Napoli’s dominance faded in the second half, allowing Bologna to mount relentless pressure. The hosts’ persistence paid off in the 64th minute, when Ndoye showcased his flair and precision with an audacious finish.
Meeting Jens Odgaard’s pinpoint low cross, the Swiss forward flicked the ball with his heel, launching it over keeper Simone Scuffet and into the net via the crossbar. The wonder goal marked Ndoye’s eighth strike of the season and cemented his status as Bologna’s talisman.
Drama unfolded in the dying moments as Emil Holm’s header was fumbled by Scuffet, presenting Santiago Castro with a golden opportunity to secure all three points for Bologna. However, Castro’s miscue left the home crowd in disbelief.
Napoli surged forward in stoppage time, but Amir Rrahmani’s tantalizing effort narrowly evaded Romelu Lukaku and Anguissa, leaving Luciano Spalletti’s side with a sense of what might have been.
As the dust settled, Napoli remain second in the table, trailing Inter Milan by three points, while Bologna’s resurgence keeps them within touching distance of Atalanta in third.
