Italiano: ‘Bologna cannot always be at maximum intensity’ | OneFootball

Vincenzo Italiano concedes Bologna ‘cannot always have the same intensity’ after a 1-1 draw away to Empoli, as the strain of the Champions League is taking its toll.

The Rossoblu seemed sluggish this evening at the Stadio Castellani, just days after their comeback 2-1 victory over Borussia Dortmund, which represented their first ever win in the competition.

A wonderful Benjamin Dominguez volley from a tricky angle cancelled out the Lorenzo Colombo opener for a stalemate.

“We cannot always have the same intensity and tempo, even if you hope to do so,” Italiano told Sky Sport Italia.

“Empoli also deserve a lot of credit for closing down all the spaces, especially in the first half. We managed to get back on level terms quickly and while we weren’t as sharp or incisive as some of our other performances, Empoli gave it their all.

“It is a point, we move up the table and tomorrow we begin again. It was by no means to be taken for granted that we’d come here and dominate, as last season Bologna won here at the last minute.”

Italiano trying to find Bologna balance

epa11853072 Bologna’s midfielder Benja Domínguez celebrates after scoring a goal during the Italian serie A soccer match Empoli vs Bologna FC at Carlo Castellani Stadium in Empoli, Italy, 25 January 2025. EPA-EFE/CLAUDIO GIOVANNINI

Bologna have been putting together a run of positive Serie A results, but also not full ones, drawing three of the last four games.

Those were against Inter and Roma before the 3-1 win over Monza and this stalemate at Empoli.

“We only played three days ago, it’s not easy to always have the fire burning at full intensity,” added the coach.

“What we must do is to always set the tempo and control the initiative, but when we cannot get the maximum points, the important thing is not to lose.”

Bologna are now sixth on 34 points after 21 matches played, only three points behind Juventus with a game in hand.

They already now that there is no possibility of staying in the Champions League beyond the opening phase, despite that win over Borussia Dortmund.

It means on Wednesday the trip to Sporting CP will be their last European fixture of this season.