Unfortunate evening in Bologna

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FC Red Bull Salzburg

·27 November 2025

Unfortunate evening in Bologna

1-4 defeat with several missed chances

On Matchday 5 of the UEFA Europa League's league phase, the Italian hosts went ahead, and despite levelling and seeing plenty of chances, we were well beaten - with Bologna running out 4-1 winners due in some part to a lack of clinical edge in attack.

One positive of the evening was Karim Konate's comeback after a year out injured.

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Match summary

Under the lights of the grand old Stadio Renato Dall’Ara, our Red Bulls started the match brimming with motivation and went right out on the attack, chasing down every ball! The hosts played more cautiously, focusing on a compact defensive line and waiting for quick counter-attacks. Despite promising moments from both sides, clear-cut scoring opportunities were lacking. After an early chance for Yeo (15') and a missed double chance for Bologna (18'), the Italians gained the upper hand and capitalised on it to take the lead. Following a poor clearance in our penalty area, Odgaard tried his luck, and his shot from 15 yards out in the 26th minute took an unfortunate deflection to send us one down.

Although we managed to win the ball back near the opposition's penalty area on several occasions, we were a tad too hasty and imprecise in our attacks. It all clicked in the 33rd minute though as Edmund Baidoo's initial shot was saved by the keeper, but Yorbe Vertessen was quickest to pounce on the rebound and slotted home the equaliser. Bologna remained dangerous, however, especially with crosses from the wings. The 36th and 38th minutes saw two particularly difficult moments, but the score remained 1-1 at half-time.

We were then shocked at the start of the second half! In the 51st minute, a quick through ball led to Dallinga restoring Bologna's lead. The euphoric hosts doubled their advantage just two minutes later: after a cross, Bernardeschi won the header and made it 3-1 (53').

This double blow rattled us, but a double substitution got us back on track. We pressed hard to get goals back. First, Vertessen (62') and shortly after, substitute Petar Ratkov (64') both failed to convert one-on-one chances against Bologna goalkeeper Ravaglia. When Ratkov finally scored in the 65th minute, VAR ruled it out for an offside.

In the closing stages, the Serbian striker was unlucky again when he failed to finish a fine move, hitting the woodwork (83'). Shortly after, Bologna sealed the victory with Orsolini's goal that made it 4-1.

Even though we had a bitter defeat tonight, the final stages still offered a special highlight. In the 81st minute, a substitution board with the number 19 was put up, ending a nearly year-long ordeal. Karim Konate was back after tearing his cruciate ligament in November 2024 - and that was something to celebrate regardless of the result.

We're back in action in the ADMIRAL Bundesliga this Sunday - playing for vital points when we visit SCR Altach.

Views

We are doing a lot of things well, but then we're too careless and too prone to errors in the decisive moments – both at the back and in attack. We invite the opponents to score, but we're not converting our own clear chances. We're working on these things, but in the end, we're left with the same story again. If we made it 2-3, we might have got back in the game, but instead, we're left with a clear defeat.

Thomas Letsch

A defeat of this magnitude is really painful. We had our chances, but we simply have to make more of them. That could have made things really exciting again. In the Europa League, you often just need that little something extra to ultimately take points away. We can draw some positive conclusions from today, but of course, losing 1-4 is very disappointing.

Stefan Lainer

Match data

Line-ups & substitutions

FC Bologna: Ravaglia – Zortea, Heggem (69. Vitik), Lucumi, Miranda – Pobega (74. Moro), Ferguson © – Orsolini, Odgaard (69. Fabbian), Bernardeschi (69. Dominguez) – Dallinga (81. Castro) FC Salzburg: Schlager – Lainer, Gadou, Rasmussen, Terzic – Diabate (60. Alajbegovic) – Bidstrup ©, Bischoff (74. Lukic) – Yeo (60. Ratkov) – Baidoo (81. Konate), Vertessen (74. Aguilar)

Goals: Odgaard (26.), Dallinga (51.), Bernardeschi (53.), Orsolini (86.) - Vertessen (33.) Attendance: Info to follow Referee: Igor Pajac (CRO) Yellow cards: Vertessen (43./Foul), Yeo (46./Foul)

Injury news

Not available for the match were Lucas Gourna-Douath (knee), Takumu Kawamura (knee), John Mellberg (knee), Karim Onisiwo (pelvis) and Christian Zawieschitzky (back). Sota Kitano and Maurits Kjaergaard were out with minor injuries.