Bologna slip in Champions League bid

Thiago Motta's Bologna, whose last continental adventure was a run to the 2002 Intertoto Cup final, would have joined third-placed Juventus on 65 points with a win but could only manage a draw after Martin Payero's opener for the away side in stoppage time at the end of the first half.

Bologna are eight points ahead of sixth-placed Lazio thanks to Alexis Saelemaekers' 78th-minute free-kick, which came with his team down to 10 men following Sam Beukema's sending off 12 minutes earlier.

"We weren't perfect but we managed to get a draw which pushes us forward," said Motta to 'DAZN'. "It's a great point given that we were a man down."

Currently in the final Champions League spot are Roma, in fifth and three points in front of Lazio ahead of their fixture at outgoing champions Napoli later on Sunday.

Daniele De Rossi's Roma have a tough end to the season with the first leg of their Europa League semi-final with German champions Bayer Leverkusen coming up on Thursday and clashes with Juve and Atalanta among their last five league fixtures of the campaign.

Atalanta, who have a game in hand on all of their top-five rivals, host lowly Empoli at the same time as Roma kick-off in Naples. Gian Piero Gasperini's side are a point behind Lazio in seventh and have their own Europa League semi with Marseille on Thursday after also reaching the Italian Cup final.

April 28, 2024