Skip to content
Full Time After Extra Time This is a live match. Extra Time Half Time

Bologna vs Livorno. Italian Serie A.

Renato Dall'Ara.

Bologna 1

  • J Crespo (3rd minute)

Livorno 0

    Bologna claim first win

    Image: Jose Angel Crespo celebrates.

    Bologna's unwanted record of being the only team in Serie A without a victory this season is over after beating Livorno 1-0.

    Bologna's unwanted record of being the only team in Serie A without a victory this season came to an end on Sunday as they defeated Livorno 1-0 to move off the foot of the table. Stefano Pioli's men were without a league win since May 12, having lost five and drawn the other three of their opening eight games this season, but they were finally able to celebrate a three-point haul thanks to Jose Angel Crespo's early goal. The former Spain Under-21 international netted what would prove to be the match winner after just three minutes when he slotted home from close range following a goalmouth scramble. Livorno, hoping to avoid a fourth successive defeat, came close to an immediate response when Emerson's left-footed effort from outside the box was superbly saved by Gianluca Curci as it arrowed towards the top corner. That exciting start to the match did not continue though, and for the remainder of the first half neither goalkeeper had anything more serious to do than watching long-range efforts sail harmlessly off-target. Both teams looked to have rediscovered their shooting boots during the half-time break though, with Curci being called into action just 60 seconds after the restart to keep out Andrea Luci's shot. A brilliant last-gasp Pasquale Schiattarella tackle then prevented Alessandro Diamanti putting Bologna 2-0 up, before the Livorno midfielder showed his ability at the other end of the field with an audacious long-range effort that went just over after he had spotted Curci off his line. Visiting goalkeeper Francesco Bardi was called into action in the 67th minute to block Cesare Natali's shot and two minutes later he produced another vital stop to keep out Diamanti's header. Livorno continued to push for the equaliser in the closing stages but Luca Siligardi and Diamanti both saw shots from distance skim the crossbar before Paulinho's curling free-kick just went over as Bologna held on for a morale-boosting win.

    Around Sky