Bologna secured their place in the Coppa Italia final for the first time in 50 years with a commanding 2-1 victory over Empoli on Thursday, sealing a 5-1 win on aggregate and booking a much-anticipated clash against AC Milan.
The triumph marks Bologna’s first appearance in the final of the competition since 1974, the year they last lifted the trophy for only the second time in their history.
With a healthy three-goal lead from the first leg, Bologna entered the return fixture at home in control, while Empoli faced a near-impossible mission of turning the tie around.
The hosts made their intentions clear early on when Giovanni Fabbian rose unmarked to meet a cross with a precise header just seven minutes into the match, widening their aggregate lead and further deflating Empoli’s hopes.
Despite the daunting task, Empoli found a moment of encouragement in the 33rd minute. Ola Solbakken forced a save from Bologna goalkeeper Federico Ravaglia, whose parry fell kindly to Viktor Kovalenko.
The midfielder made no mistake, tucking in the rebound to make it 1-1 on the night.
As the game progressed, both teams embraced a more expressive style, showcasing creative and attacking football.
However, Bologna restored their lead with four minutes left on the clock, as Thijs Dallinga met a well-delivered cross and powered home a header to cap off the win.
The final, set for May 14 at the Stadio Olimpico, will pit Bologna against a formidable AC Milan side.
For coach Vincenzo Italiano, it’s a continuation of his impressive run in domestic and European cup competitions, having led Fiorentina to back-to-back Conference League finals and last year’s Coppa Italia final.
“It was a goal, the dream of this city and the club: we have honoured this competition from the start, and when you reach the final stretch, everyone wants to go all the way,” said Italiano, speaking after the match. “We dedicate this final to the people of Bologna, who support us tremendously.”
While the Coppa Italia winner earns direct entry into the Europa League, Bologna’s current fourth-place position in Serie A puts them on track for a second consecutive Champions League campaign.
Their recent form underlines their ambition—last weekend, they handed league leaders Inter Milan a 1-0 defeat in Serie A.
“That would upset Milan, but we hope to play a great match, arriving in top condition,” Italiano added. “Our self-esteem is already sky-high, and we know we’re facing a team of champions, but we’ll try to use our strengths. We can’t wait to get to Rome, and we hope to have those 30,000 fans at the Olimpico.”
