The Rossoblu have been struggling badly of late, especially in Serie A, where they have just one win and three draws in the last 12 rounds.
They had started strong today, until Tommaso Pobega was sent off for ‘serious foul play’ just 22 minutes into the Derby d’Emilia Romagna, a harsh decision suggested by the VAR review after the referee had initially only booked the midfielder.
Italiano stunned by Bologna bad luck
BOLOGNA, ITALY – FEBRUARY 08: Vincenzo Italiano head coach of Bologna FC during the Serie A match between Bologna FC 1909 and Parma Calcio 1913 at Renato Dall’Ara Stadium on February 08, 2026 in Bologna, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)
“The only thing we did badly wrong today was lose the game, because that was not a red card, it wasn’t even a challenge,” Italiano told DAZN Italia.
Despite being down to 10 men for over an hour, and with Parma later also seeing Mariano Troilo sent off, it was decided deep into stoppages by a Christian Ordonez snapshot.
“Putting in a performance like this when down to 10 men says everything,” insisted Italiano.
“Even after they scored, we still created another three scoring opportunities of our own. This is one of those spells where the moment we make a mistake, we are punished for it, and whoever comes here ends up taking away three undeserved points.”
BOLOGNA, ITALY – FEBRUARY 08: Thijs Dallinga of Bologna FC competes for the ball with Mariano Troilo of Parma Calcio during the Serie A match between Bologna FC 1909 and Parma Calcio 1913 at Renato Dall’Ara Stadium on February 08, 2026 in Bologna, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)
It was the fourth consecutive defeat for Bologna in Serie A, who are now without a win on home turf in the league since beating Napoli 2-0 at the Stadio Dall’Ara on November 9.
“Our priority today was to put in a good performance, and we did that. Aside from the defeat to Milan, I have seen improvements. Today we were back playing like the team that won the Coppa Italia eight months ago.”
Nonetheless, this result will increase the already existing rumours that Bologna could fire Italiano to recall Thiago Motta, who has been out of work since he was sacked by Juventus.
Christian Ordonez gave Parma victory deep into stoppages, along with a pair of incredible Edoardo Corvi saves, as Bologna were frustrated in a fiery derby with two red cards.
Both teams were in poor form going into this local derby. The hosts had a pitiful one win and three draws in their last 11 Serie A games, culminating in a 3-0 hammering by Milan. Lukasz Skorupski returned from suspension and the treatment table was finally empty, so new buy Joao Mario went into the starting XI for his debut. The Ducali missed Nahuel Estevez, Zion Suzuki, Pontus Almqvist, Lautaro Valenti, Abdoulaye Ndiaye and Matija Frigan. Following 0-0 draws with Napoli and Genoa, they lost heavily 4-0 to Atalanta and 4-1 to Juventus.
BOLOGNA, ITALY – FEBRUARY 08: Thijs Dallinga of Bologna FC competes for the ball with Mariano Troilo of Parma Calcio during the Serie A match between Bologna FC 1909 and Parma Calcio 1913 at Renato Dall’Ara Stadium on February 08, 2026 in Bologna, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)
The hosts had the better start with Charalampos Lykogiannis and Jhon Lucumi firing over from distance, but the game changed on 22 minutes.
Mandela Keita won it back in midfield and surged forward, clipped from behind by Tommaso Pobega for a yellow card. The decision was changed to red following a VAR On-Field Review, as he was off balance and grazed the studs on the back of the calf almost at the knee, which looked considerably worse in slow motion.
Adrian Bernabé saw a free kick flash just wide, while Thijs Dallinga didn’t get enough power on the header to surprise Edoardo Corvi.
The dismissal seemed to make little difference to the approach of either team, though on the stroke of half-time Gaetano Oristanio robbed Torbjorn Heggem to set up Keita, his strike from the edge of the area charged down by Lewis Ferguson.
BOLOGNA, ITALY – FEBRUARY 08: Mandela Keita of Parma Calcio during the Serie A match between Bologna FC 1909 and Parma Calcio 1913 at Renato Dall’Ara Stadium on February 08, 2026 in Bologna, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)
Bologna had a huge opportunity to take the lead after the restart, as Federico Bernardeschi knocked down the Ferguson cross only for Dallinga to balloon over the bar from seven yards.
The problems continued to pile up, as Lykogiannis limped off with a suspected thigh strain.
Moments later, Parma broke the deadlock when Francesco Delprato and Mateo Pellegrino at full stretch did not make contact with the Adrian Bernabé free kick, but did mean Santiago Castro was unsighted and accidentally nodded into his own net. As Pellegrino was offside, the goal was disallowed because he was interfering with play.
Moments later, Rowe’s header was deflected inches wide by Mariano Troilo’s arm, but it was flush to the body.
Rowe bent a right-foot finish past the far post too from the edge of the area, but Parma were also reduced to 10 men and again it was a little harsh. Mariano Troilo received a second yellow card for jumping leading with an arm on Castro’s head.
BOLOGNA, ITALY – FEBRUARY 08: Jonathan Rowe of Bologna FC competes for the ball with Sascha Britschgi of Parma Calcio during the Serie A match between Bologna FC 1909 and Parma Calcio 1913 at Renato Dall’Ara Stadium on February 08, 2026 in Bologna, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)
Bernardeschi’s free kick skimmed the near top corner, but Riccardo Orsolini almost scored within a minute of coming off the bench, his acrobatic volley bouncing off the turf and then off the upright.
Just as Bologna were pushing for victory after playing down to 10 men for over an hour, they were punished at the 94th minute by a sudden Christian Ordonez snapshot that went through Lucumi’s legs, meaning Lukasz Skorupski couldn’t see it until late as it slotted into the near bottom corner.
Even then, it wasn’t over, as Edoardo Corvi had to make two sensational reaction saves in the space of 60 seconds. First he was almost stunned by teammate Delprato’s bullet header from point-blank range, then he flew to fingertip an Orsolini volley out from under the crossbar.
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