Napoli 2-3 Bologna Player Ratings: Juan Miranda 8.5/10 Masterclass Sets Up Bologna's Stunning Stoppage-Time Maradona Heist

What a rollercoaster of a match at the Napoli home ground. We saw a five-goal thriller that ultimately ended in heartbreak for the hosts. Bologna came out of the gates flying, stunning the home crowd with two quick goals. From our perspective, Napoli looked completely shell-shocked in the opening stages. They just couldn't handle Bologna's intensity.

The first goal came from Federico Bernardeschi, a lovely strike that set the tone. Then, a clumsy penalty conceded by Giovanni Di Lorenzo allowed Riccardo Orsolini to double the lead. It felt like the game was over before it had even begun. But credit to Napoli, they showed immense character to fight their way back into this Serie A contest.

They clawed one back just before halftime and then equalized early in the second half. The momentum was entirely with them. We really thought they would go on to win it. But football is a cruel game. A late, late goal from substitute Jonathan Rowe sealed a dramatic 3-2 victory for Bologna, leaving the home fans devastated. It was a classic match of two halves, with a sting in the tail. Here are Sportsdunia's Napoli vs Bologna player ratings.

Key Takeaways

• Miranda was outstanding from start to finish, and his 8.5/10 rating reflected a left-back display of the very highest quality.
• Bologna's resilience after Napoli's equaliser was the defining quality of a brilliant away performance.
• Rowe's acrobatic stoppage-time finish was a moment of pure instinct that completed one of the season's most dramatic away victories.

Napoli Player Ratings vs Bologna

Check out the Napoli player ratings vs Bologna.

Goalkeeper

Vanja Milinković-Savić - 5.0: A really tough day at the office for the keeper. He was beaten three times and only registered one save. From our seat, he looked a bit hesitant for the first goal. He couldn't do much about the penalty, but conceding three at home is never a good look. We expected a more commanding presence between the sticks.

Defenders

Alessandro Buongiorno - 5.5: He struggled to contain Bologna's fluid attack, especially in the first half. Being dribbled past and being part of a defense that shipped three goals is telling. He made a couple of clearances but overall, he looked off the pace. We noticed he seemed to recover slightly in the second half but the damage was done.

Amir Rrahmani - 5.5: Not his finest performance in a Napoli shirt. He lost the majority of his aerial duels, which is unlike him. He was caught out of position for the opener and seemed to struggle with the movement of Bologna's forwards. He did have a header saved late on, but his primary job is to defend, and it wasn't a successful outing on that front.

Giovanni Di Lorenzo - 6.5: A very mixed performance from the captain. He showed great desire to get forward and score Napoli's first goal, a real leader's contribution. However, he was the one who gave away the penalty with a clumsy challenge. That moment of madness put his team in a huge hole. He tried to make amends, but it was a costly error.

Midfielders

Miguel Gutiérrez - 6.0: He was tidy on the ball with a 91% pass accuracy and made some key tackles. However, he also lost possession 16 times, which is far too many in a crucial midfield area. He tried to get forward but his final ball was often lacking. He was eventually substituted as Napoli pushed for a winner.

Scott McTominay - 6.5: You can never fault his work rate. He was all over the pitch, winning duels and drawing fouls to relieve pressure. He put in a real shift. But, he missed a massive chance, a header from close range that he should have buried. Those are the moments that change games, and it was a big let-off for Bologna.

Stanislav Lobotka - 6.5: The usual calm and composed presence in the heart of midfield. He kept possession ticking over nicely and made a couple of important interceptions. He provides the glue that holds the team together. He was sacrificed later in the game for a more attacking option, which was understandable given the scoreline.

Matteo Politano - 6.0: A frustrating evening for him. He created a couple of decent chances and his crossing was okay. But he also lost the ball a lot and picked up a silly yellow card. We expected him to be more of a difference-maker, but he drifted in and out of the game too much.

Forwards

Alisson Santos - 8.0: Easily Napoli's best player on the pitch. He was a constant threat with his direct running and skill. He took his goal brilliantly to level the scores and was at the heart of everything good Napoli did offensively. He created three chances and was a nightmare for the Bologna defence. A superb individual performance in a losing effort.

Rasmus Højlund - 6.0: A performance of contrasts. He did well to set up Alisson Santos for the equalizer with a clever assist. However, his movement was poor, getting caught offside three times and killing promising attacks. He lost possession too frequently and just didn't look sharp enough. A frustrating watch.

Giovane - 6.0: He showed some bright sparks early on, forcing a good save from the keeper. He looked lively and willing to take players on. But his influence waned significantly as the game went on, and it was no surprise to see him substituted. A decent start but he couldn't sustain it.

Substitutes

Eljif Elmas - 6.0: Came on to provide fresh energy but struggled to make a real impact on the game.
Billy Gilmour - 6.0: Replaced Lobotka to offer more forward thrust but couldn't unlock the Bologna defence.
Leonardo Spinazzola - 6.5: Provided a great cross for a McTominay chance late on.
Pasquale Mazzocchi - N/A: Came on too late to influence the match.

Manager

A. Conte - 5.5: The team showed great spirit to fight back from 2-0 down, which is a credit to him. However, the defensive organization at the start was abysmal. To then lose the game in stoppage time after working so hard to get back into it suggests a lack of game management. He'll be furious with how this one slipped away.

Bologna Player Ratings vs Napoli

Here are the Bologna player ratings vs Napoli.

Goalkeeper

Massimo Pessina - 6.0: His low passing accuracy put his team under pressure at times. He conceded two goals where he had little chance. However, he made a vital, match-winning save in stoppage time from Amir Rrahmani's header. That moment alone bumps up his rating significantly. A mixed bag, but he came up huge when it mattered most.

Defenders

Juan Miranda - 8.5: What a performance. Our man of the match without a doubt. He was absolutely phenomenal. He provided the assist for the first goal, won the penalty for the second, and was a constant threat down the left. He created three chances and was defensively solid, winning most of his duels. An almost perfect away performance.

Jhon Lucumí - 7.0: A really solid and commanding display at the back. He was strong in the tackle and read the game well, making several important clearances. He picked up a yellow card for a cynical foul, but it was a necessary one. He was a rock for his team when Napoli were piling on the pressure.

Eivind Helland - 5.0: From our perspective, he was the weak link in the Bologna backline. He struggled to cope with Napoli's attackers and picked up a deserved yellow card. He offered very little going forward and was eventually substituted. A day to forget for the defender.

João Mário - 5.5: Had a difficult time against Napoli's tricky wingers. He made a few tackles but was also dribbled past and earned a yellow card for a clumsy foul. He was substituted in the second half as his coach looked for more stability. Not his best outing.

Midfielders

Remo Freuler - 7.0: An unsung hero in the Bologna midfield. He was incredibly tidy in possession, rarely giving the ball away. His positioning was excellent, making four key interceptions to break up Napoli's play. He provided the stability that allowed the attacking players to flourish. A very intelligent performance.

Lewis Ferguson - 7.0: The captain led by example with a tenacious display. He was strong in his duels, winning the majority of them, and drove his team forward. He was a calming influence on the ball and worked tirelessly for the cause. A real engine room performance before being subbed off.

Tommaso Pobega - 6.5: A solid, industrious performance without being spectacular. He put in the hard yards defensively and kept things simple on the ball. He didn't offer a huge amount in an attacking sense but played his role for the team effectively. A disciplined display.

Forwards

Federico Bernardeschi - 7.5: He got Bologna off to a flying start with a fantastic goal. His movement and energy caused Napoli's defence all sorts of problems in the first half. His influence faded a little in the second, and he was subbed, but his early contribution was crucial to the result.

Riccardo Orsolini - 7.5: He showed nerves of steel to slot home the penalty and put his side 2-0 up. He was a livewire throughout, looking to take on his man and create opportunities. He also worked hard defensively, which was vital in an away performance like this. A great all-round contribution.

Santiago Castro - 7.0: He didn't get on the scoresheet, but he led the line superbly. He was a physical presence, winning a high number of his aerial and ground duels. His hold-up play was excellent, bringing his teammates into the game and providing a constant outlet. A selfless and effective performance.

Substitutes

Jonathan Rowe - 7.5: The hero of the hour. Came off the bench and snatched the winning goal in stoppage time. You can't ask for a better impact than that. A clinical finish that won his team the game.
Nadir Zortea - 6.5: Came on and provided more defensive solidity than João Mário.
Simon Sohm - 6.0: Helped see out the game in midfield.
Nikola Moro - 6.0: Added fresh legs to a tiring midfield.
Torbjørn Heggem - N/A: Not on long enough to rate.

Manager

V. Italiano - 8.0: He got his tactics spot on. His team started with incredible intensity and purpose. When Napoli fought back, he didn't panic. His substitutions were perfect, with Jonathan Rowe coming on to score the winner. An outstanding tactical victory on the road.

Man of the Match

Juan Miranda was the man of the match.

Worst Performer

Eivind Helland was the worst performer.