Bologna extended their historic home unbeaten run to 28 games, defeating 10-man SK Brann 1-0 to secure a place in the Europa League last 16.

With a 1-0 win over SK Brann, Bologna extended their incredible unbeaten home record in European knockout games to 28 matches. Having already secured a 1-0 victory in the first leg in Norway, this result confirmed a 2-0 aggregate win and a well-deserved spot in the next round as the club enters the business end of the season.

Round of 16 place locked-in for Bologna 🔒#UEL pic.twitter.com/FGPcyGqUwM

— UEFA Europa League (@EuropaLeague) February 26, 2026

Despite their recent struggles in domestic football, Brann didn’t come to Italy just to make up the numbers. They were actually the more dangerous side in the opening exchanges, forcing Bologna’s Lukasz Skorupski into several high-quality saves. The Polish keeper was the hero of the first half, rushing out to block goal-bound efforts and relying on Remo Freuler for a desperate goal-line clearance to keep the visitors from taking an early lead.

The momentum of the match shifted dramatically about ten minutes before half-time. Brann’s Jacob Sorensen was shown a straight red card for a reckless high boot that caught Freuler. It was the “helping hand” that Bologna needed, as they had previously struggled to turn their possession into actual goal-scoring opportunities.

Even with ten men, however, Brann managed to test Skorupski once more before the break with a brilliant leaping save.

The second half followed a predictable pattern, with Bologna dictating the tempo and a shorthanded Brann looking to strike on the counter-attack. Unlike the first half, the “Pride of Bergen” found it much harder to create real openings with one less player on the pitch. 

Bologna looked much more composed and began to knock on the door, with Jhon Lucumí forcing a sharp save before the hosts finally found their breakthrough.

The decisive moment came courtesy of Joao Mario. After the Brann defense failed to properly clear a dangerous cross, the midfielder showed great composure to take a touch and fire a volley into the corner of the net. The goal gave Bologna total control of the tie and effectively ended any lingering hopes of a Norwegian comeback. From that point on, it was all about game management for the Rossoblù.

With the lead secured, Bologna introduced Riccardo Orsolini from the bench to keep the pressure on. While Orsolini came close to adding a second goal on the night on several occasions, the hosts were content to manage the clock and avoid any unnecessary risks. 

The two-goal cushion across the entire tie allowed them to see out the final minutes comfortably in front of their cheering home supporters.

Bologna can now turn their attention to a massive Round of 16 clash, where they will face either fellow Serie A side AS Roma or Germany’s SC Freiburg. For Brann, the exit marks a disappointing end to a campaign where they showed flashes of brilliance but struggled with discipline.