Bologna booked their place in the Coppa Italia final with a 2–1 home win over Empoli on Thursday night, securing a dominant 5–1 aggregate victory to set up a mouth-watering clash with AC Milan at the Stadio Olimpico.
Coming into the second leg with a 3–0 advantage from the first leg, Bologna wasted no time in making their mark on the night. Just seven minutes in, Giovanni Fabbian rose unmarked to head home a pinpoint cross and extend the lead, throwing the home crowd into a frenzy.
Empoli, however, showed resilience despite the daunting aggregate scoreline. In the 33rd minute, Ola Solbakken tested Bologna goalkeeper Federico Ravaglia with a powerful angled shot. Ravaglia could only parry the effort into the path of Viktor Kovalenko, who calmly slotted in the rebound to briefly revive Empoli’s hopes.
As the match progressed, both sides played end-to-end football. Bologna however, scored again in the 86th minute when Thijs Dallinga connected with a fine cross to head in Bologna’s second goal of the evening, sealing the victory.
The win marks Bologna’s return to the Coppa Italia final for the first time in over five decades. The last time they reached the final was in 1974, when they lifted the trophy – a moment etched in the club’s history.
Manager Vincenzo Italiano was emotional after the final whistle: “It was a goal, the dream of this city and the club,” he said. “We’ve worked hard all season for this, and now we have a chance to bring something special home.”
Bologna will face AC Milan on May 14 at the Stadio Olimpico in what promises to be a thrilling final. Milan, who are chasing their piece of silverware this season, will be favourites on paper, but Bologna’s journey and resilience suggest they won’t go down without a fight.
For Bologna, this final is more than just a match — it’s a shot at history.
