Bologna vs Genoa Player Ratings: Riccardo Orsolini 8.5/10 Rated as Dramatic Late Penalty Seals 2-1 Comeback

What an absolutely chaotic way to end a football match. For the longest time, it felt like Genoa were going to grind out a tough away victory in the Serie A. They defended with heart, took their chance brilliantly, and looked set to take all three points back home.

This was a classic clash of styles. Bologna dominated possession but struggled to break down a resolute Genoa backline. The visitors struck first through Mikael Egill Ellertsson, a goal that felt like it could be the winner. But Bologna showed incredible spirit to fight back.

Santiago Castro's equalizer injected new life into the hosts, and the game descended into a frantic finale. The final twist in this match came deep into stoppage time. A handball, a penalty, and Riccardo Orsolini stepped up to seal an incredible 2-1 comeback win. Here are the Bologna vs Genoa player ratings.

Genoa Player Ratings vs Bologna

Here are the Genoa player ratings.

Goalkeeper

Nicola Leali - 7.0: He was on course to be the hero for so long. Leali made four crucial saves, including a couple of really smart stops to keep his team ahead. He commanded his box well and looked confident. Unfortunately, he couldn't stop the perfectly placed late penalty. A heartbreaking end to what was a very solid performance from the Genoa keeper.

Defenders

Aarón Martín - 6.0: A mixed bag from the fullback. He had some decent moments going forward and got a shot on target himself. However, he lost possession 15 times, which put his team under unnecessary pressure. Defensively, he was kept busy and coped for the most part, but it wasn't his most assured display.

Leo Østigård - 6.5: His game was unfortunately cut short by injury right before halftime. While he was on, he was a physical presence and picked up a yellow card for a cynical foul. He made a few important clearances and looked solid. It's a shame his afternoon ended prematurely, as Genoa missed his combativeness.

Brooke Norton-Cuffy - 6.0: A very busy evening for the defender. He was constantly involved, making three tackles and a number of clearances. However, he also looked a bit rash, picking up a yellow card and committing a couple of needless fouls. He struggled at times with Bologna's attacking movement down his flank.

Johan Vásquez - 6.5: The captain led a defensive unit that was so close to a clean sheet. He was solid, making five clearances and even testing the keeper with a shot. From our perspective, he organized his backline well for large periods. He did, however, lose four of his six duels, which is a slight concern.

Midfielders

Vitinha - 6.0: A frustrating game for the midfielder. He picked up an early yellow card and never really seemed to settle into the match. What stood out to us was his big missed chance, a header he should have buried. He worked hard but lacked the quality needed before being substituted.

Ruslan Malinovskyi - 7.5: Genoa's main creative force. He provided a wonderful assist for the opening goal, showcasing his vision and passing range. He created three chances in total and was the player who looked most likely to make something happen for the visitors. A classy performance before he was taken off.

Morten Frendrup - 7.0: A classic battling midfield performance. He was everywhere, winning an impressive nine duels and making three successful tackles. He did the dirty work effectively, breaking up play and protecting his defence. A tireless and very important player for his side.

Patrizio Masini - 7.0: Much like his midfield partner, Masini was a combative force. He won a remarkable 8 out of 9 duels and drew four fouls, constantly disrupting Bologna's rhythm. He also made seven ball recoveries, showing his excellent reading of the game. The yellow card was the only blot on his copybook.

Mikael Egill Ellertsson - 8.0: Genoa's best player on the day. He took his goal brilliantly, a clinical finish into the top corner that looked to have won the game. Beyond the goal, he was a livewire, creating two chances for his teammates. He was a constant threat with his movement and deserved to be on the winning side.

Forwards

Lorenzo Colombo - 5.5: A really tough afternoon for the striker. He was completely isolated and struggled to make any impact. He won just one of his twelve duels, which tells the story of his physical battle against Bologna's centre-backs. It was no surprise to see him substituted early in the second half.

Substitutes

Alessandro Marcandalli - 6.0: Came on for the injured Østigård and slotted into the defence without much fuss.

Caleb Ekuban - 6.0: Replaced the ineffective Colombo but didn't fare much better in terms of impact.

Valentín Carboni - 4.5: A disastrous cameo. To come on and concede the match-deciding penalty with a handball is a nightmare for any player.

Jeff Ekhator - 6.0: Brought on late and had little time to influence the proceedings.

Manager

P. Vieira - 6.0: His game plan was almost perfect. His team was defensively solid and clinical on the break. They were minutes away from a huge away win. However, his team's late collapse and the calamitous penalty will leave a sour taste. The result ultimately reflects poorly, despite the performance being decent for 90 minutes.

Bologna Player Ratings vs Genoa

Here are the Bologna player ratings.

Goalkeeper

Lukasz Skorupski - 7.0: Had no chance with the goal he conceded. Otherwise, he was reliable when called upon, making three saves. His distribution was solid, and he showed good command of his area. A dependable performance from the Bologna number one.

Defenders

Torbjørn Heggem - 6.5: A steady performance from the defender. He was strong in the air, winning three aerial duels, and his passing was tidy with an 85% accuracy. He did his job without any fuss before being substituted late on.

Lorenzo De Silvestri - 6.5: The captain was a solid presence for the hour he was on the pitch. He made five clearances and a couple of key interceptions. He led the line well before being replaced as Bologna chased the game.

Juan Miranda - 7.0: A very active performance from the left-back. He was a willing runner, constantly getting up and down the flank. He won an impressive seven duels and was a key part of Bologna's build-up play, even if his final ball was sometimes lacking.

Martin Vitík - 8.0: What a colossal performance. From our perspective, he was an absolute monster at the back. He won a staggering 11 aerial duels and made 8 clearances. He was unbeatable in the air and repelled almost everything that came his way. A dominant display.

Midfielders

Nikola Moro - 7.0: He was the metronome in midfield for much of the game. His passing was crisp, and he controlled the tempo well. He wasn't afraid to have a shot from distance either. His influence waned slightly before he was substituted.

Riccardo Orsolini - 8.5: The undisputed man of the match. He was a constant threat, registering five shots and hitting the woodwork. Most importantly, he showed nerves of steel to step up and bury the winning penalty deep into stoppage time. He was the difference-maker.

Remo Freuler - 7.0: A tenacious and energetic performance in the heart of midfield. He won eight duels and made five successful tackles, showing his quality in breaking up play. He provided the steel that allowed his more creative teammates to flourish.

Federico Bernardeschi - 7.0: A lively and creative outing. He created three chances and his dribbling caused problems for the Genoa defence. He was a key part of Bologna's attack before being substituted as the manager looked for a goal.

Benja Domínguez - 6.0: A quiet game for the midfielder. He struggled to find space and make a significant impact on the game. He was neat in possession but offered little penetration before being taken off.

Forwards

Santiago Castro - 8.0: He led the line brilliantly. He was a physical handful for the Genoa defence all game. He got his reward with a crucial poacher's finish for the equalizer. His goal completely changed the momentum of the match. A top performance from the striker.

Substitutes

Nadir Zortea - 6.5: Came on and added some energy down the right-hand side.

Nicolò Cambiaghi - 7.5: A game-changing substitution. He provided the brilliant cross for the equalizing goal and his direct running caused immediate problems. A fantastic impact from the bench.

Lewis Ferguson - 6.5: Brought on to add some control and did his job well.

Thijs Dallinga - 6.0: Not on long enough to make a significant impact.

Jhon Lucumí - 6.0: A late introduction to see out the game.

Manager

V. Italiano - 8.0: His substitutions won Bologna the game. Bringing on Nicolò Cambiaghi was a masterstroke that led directly to the equalizer. He made brave changes when his team was behind, and it paid off spectacularly. He deserves immense credit for masterminding this comeback.

Sportsduna's Player of the Match is Riccardo Orsolini