Serie A Round 9: Inter Benefit from Two Own Goals as Bologna Stun Milan
Serie A’s ninth round delivered the kind of football drama that keeps supporters talking long after the final whistle. Two own goals helped Inter secure an unusual 2-0 win away to Venezia, while Bologna produced a breathtaking comeback to defeat Milan 4-2 at San Siro. The contrasting results reshaped the league picture: Inter moved to the top of the table with 25 points, while Milan slipped to fifth on 18.
For Inter, the match in Venice was a test of patience that ended with an extraordinary twist. For Bologna, a one-minute spell after the break transformed a difficult away game into a statement victory. Together, the results offered a reminder that football can turn on a single mistake—or, as Milan discovered, two goals arriving almost back-to-back.
Inter’s Late Breakthrough Comes from Venezia’s Defence
Inter controlled much of their visit to Venezia, but dominance did not immediately bring a breakthrough. The visitors had to wait until the closing stages to find a way through, and neither goal came from an Inter forward. Instead, two defensive errors by the hosts settled the contest in a remarkable two-minute sequence.
In the 80th minute, Venezia defender Matías Moreno inadvertently turned the ball into his own net, giving Inter the lead. The home side had little time to regroup. Just two minutes later, Ridwan Hilhal also put the ball into his own goal, extending Inter’s advantage to 2-0.
Venezia attempted to respond, but the late double blow left them with too much to do. Inter saw out the remaining minutes and collected three valuable points without needing to score through one of their own attackers. It was an unusual result, but the league table makes no distinction between a spectacular finish and a fortunate deflection: Inter’s win pushed them to 25 points and into first place.
Why the result matters for Inter
Winning away from home is important in a title race, particularly when a match becomes tense and chances are difficult to convert. Inter’s ability to keep pressing until the final stages helped create the conditions for Venezia’s errors, even if the goals themselves were accidental. The victory also gives the leaders momentum as the season develops, while reinforcing how quickly a closely contested game can change.
For Venezia, the defeat will be especially frustrating. Their defence had held out for most of the match, only for two own goals in quick succession to decide the outcome. Recovering from that kind of ending will require a swift response in their next league fixture.
Bologna Turn Milan’s Lead into a 4-2 Defeat
The action in Milan was even more dramatic. Bologna came from behind to beat the Rossoneri 4-2, overturning a 2-1 deficit with a rapid second-half surge before adding a late goal to complete a memorable away performance.
Bologna struck first in the eighth minute. Samuel Mbangula finished after a pass from Nadir Zortea, giving the visitors an early 1-0 lead. Milan answered quickly, with Fodé Ballo-Touré equalising in the 14th minute. He struck again in the 27th, turning the match around and putting the home side 2-1 ahead.
At that point, Milan appeared to have gained control. Ballo-Touré’s two goals had given the Rossoneri a platform, and the home crowd could reasonably expect the team to protect its advantage. But the second half brought a sudden shift in momentum that changed the entire match.
A decisive 60 seconds at San Siro
In the 61st minute, Milan defender Davide Bartesaghi accidentally directed the ball into his own net, allowing Bologna to draw level. Before Milan could settle after conceding, the visitors struck again. One minute later, Mbangula scored his second of the night, finishing a move created by Juan Miranda to put Bologna ahead 3-2.
The speed of the turnaround was crucial. Milan had gone from leading to trailing in the space of a minute, and Bologna seized the opportunity to take control. The home side pushed forward in search of an equaliser, but the visitors defended with determination and resisted the late pressure.
Bologna then delivered the decisive finish in the 86th minute. Mbangula completed his hat-trick after Jens Odgaard supplied a precise pass, making it 4-2 and confirming a remarkable result. His performance turned an already memorable comeback into a personal milestone, while Bologna’s response showcased the value of staying composed after falling behind.
What the Results Mean for the Serie A Table
Inter’s win took them to 25 points and first place, while Milan’s loss left them fifth on 18. The gap between the two clubs highlights how significant a single round can be in a competitive league campaign. Inter gained ground through a narrow victory, whereas Milan lost points at home despite scoring twice and leading at half-time.
Bologna, meanwhile, can take confidence from a result built on resilience and attacking efficiency. Their comeback was not simply a product of Milan’s own goal: Mbangula’s three goals and the team’s quick reaction after the equaliser were central to the outcome. The performance could prove an important boost as Bologna look to build consistency over the coming fixtures.
Football Prediction: What to Watch Next
Looking ahead, Inter will aim to turn their position at the top into sustained momentum. Their next challenge will be to convert control into goals through their own attacking play, rather than relying on opposition mistakes. Venezia, by contrast, will need to restore confidence at the back after a painful finish.
Milan’s response will be one of the major talking points of the next round. The Rossoneri showed they could create scoring opportunities, but their defensive lapses and inability to regain control after Bologna’s quick double proved costly. Any football prediction for Milan’s next match will depend heavily on whether they can tighten their defensive organisation and manage pressure more effectively.
Bologna will hope to carry the energy of this comeback into their next fixture. Mbangula’s hat-trick will attract attention, but the team’s collective response was just as important: they recovered from falling behind, punished a brief defensive wobble and protected their advantage when Milan pushed forward. If they maintain that balance, Bologna could remain a difficult opponent for teams across Serie A.
Round nine offered no shortage of talking points: two own goals in Venice, a one-minute swing at San Siro and a hat-trick that sealed a stunning comeback. In a season where the standings can change quickly, these results underline a familiar truth about football—matches are rarely decided until the final whistle.
