Napoli's Serie A title defense suffered a significant blow on Sunday as they fell to a 2-0 defeat against Bologna at the Stadio Renato Dall'Ara. The loss, marked by goals from Thijs Dallinga and Jhon Lucumí, sees Napoli lose ground in the title race, remaining level on points with league leaders Milan, while Bologna joins Inter and Roma, pending their later match, with a close 21 points.
The game presented an early challenge for Bologna when their first-choice goalkeeper, Łukasz Skorupski, sustained an injury in the opening minutes. This unfortunate event led to the Serie A debut of 17-year-old Massimo Pessina. Despite this setback, Bologna managed to break the deadlock five minutes into the second half. Nicolò Cambiaghi, who had come on as a substitute for the injured Jonathan Rowe, delivered a precise low cross from the left, which Dallinga expertly flicked in at the near post.
Bologna extended their lead in the 66th minute when Jhon Lucumí headed in a cross from inside the area. Napoli's attempts to respond saw Noa Lang's effort strike the upright shortly after, but Bologna remained resolute, successfully thwarting Napoli's attacks and securing a comfortable victory.
This defeat underscores Napoli's recent struggles in front of goal, as they have now failed to score in their last three consecutive matches across all competitions. Their offensive woes are further highlighted by the fact that they only managed one shot on target throughout the entire game against Bologna, accumulating a meager 0.26 expected goals (xG). Napoli has struggled to find goals without Kevin De Bruyne, who was injured last month. In contrast, Bologna registered 11 shots with four on target, resulting in 0.94 xG.
Bologna's impressive start to the season continues, as they have now amassed 21 points from their opening 11 games, marking their best start in Serie A since the introduction of the three-points-for-a-win system. This is the first time they have won six of their opening matches since the 1996-97 season.
For Napoli, this loss serves as a stark reminder of the challenges in maintaining a title-winning form. After clinching the Scudetto in the 2024-25 season, their second in three years, the team, now managed by Antonio Conte, faces increasing pressure to overcome their offensive struggles and regain their position at the top of the Serie A table. Injuries to key players such as Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku have undoubtedly impacted the team's performance.
