On Saturday, February 22, 2025, Parma faced Bologna at the Ennio Tardini stadium, hosting the 26th match of the Serie A season. Parma, under new management, desperately sought three points to aid their battle against relegation, all the more pressing following their recent disheartening streak of four consecutive losses, culminating in a 1-0 defeat against Roma.
Whereas their opponents, Bologna, guided by Vincenzo Italiano, came off the back of impressive momentum, boasting seven unbeaten matches. The stage was set for what promised to be a clash with significant repercussions for the league table.
From the outset, Parma demonstrated urgency and resolve, clearly eager to break their goal drought, which had persisted for the past 375 minutes. They opened the scoring with Ange-Yoan Bonny securing the lead via penalty right before halftime—this pivotal moment resulted from a handball by Bologna's Sam Beukema. Bonny converted the penalty with precision, placing the ball firmly in the bottom left corner, sending bubbly hopes throughout the stadium.
With the score at 1-0, Parma emerged from the break with renewed vigor. The home side efficiently capitalized on the counterattack as Simon Sohm doubled the lead to 2-0 after receiving assistance from Dennis Man, who capitalized on Bologna's defensive lapse. Sohm's left-footed shot from the left side of the box clinched the match for Parma, who up to this point had struggled to produce offensive pressure.
Bologna, who entered the match sitting comfortably mid-table, were at the mercy of Parma's revitalized defense and pressing tactics. Giovanni Fabbian and Riccardo Orsolini, two of Bologna's key forwards, had attempts throughout the encounter but failed to convert, showcasing the strengthening Parma defense which had been previously under scrutiny for conceding 45 goals this season, only second to Verona.
The match statistics painted Parma as the clear victors, with two goals scoring and maintaining control through strategic substitutions accentuating their intention to hold onto the lead. Despite Bologna's attempts to break through, they only managed six shots on target against Parma's cohesive gameplay. This victory served as both relief and momentum for the home side as they momentarily lifted themselves above the relegation zone.
With this victory, Parma now sits on 23 points, just two points shy of escaping the relegation battle, indicating their spirited fight to remain part of Italy's top flight. The managerial experience of Cristian Chivu seems to creak through as they start to form a coherent style of play.
On the opposite end, Bologna, who were competing fiercely for European qualification, must regroup and address their vulnerabilities. Currently sitting 8th on the table with 41 points, they find themselves five points from the top four, having expected more from their recent matches.
The match not only highlighted the contrasting fates faced by these two teams but served as a reminder of the intense competitiveness within Serie A, where both survival and aspirations for higher placement fuel each encounter.