SANTIAGO CASTRO SCORES AGAIN AS BOLOGNA CLINCHES BACK-TO-BACK AWAY VICTORIES
Bologna takes a 1-0 lead! Discover how Santiago Castro’s "maturity" and an early goal stunned Brann in icy Europa League action.
Vincenzo Italiano couldn’t say enough good things about Santiago Castro after Bologna’s 1-0 win away at Brann in the Europa League play-off. “Tonight, I saw a really mature performance,” he said.
Bologna couldn’t have asked for a better start in Bergen’s icy weather. Castro caught everyone off guard with a sharp, angled shot that slipped past the keeper just nine minutes in.
They had chances to add more; Orsolini and Dallinga both forced good saves. On the other end, Skorupski had to pull off a tricky double stop when Brann finally threatened.
For Italiano, this felt like a turning point. “We had to adapt; there was no way around it. We knew it’d be tough, so we checked the pitch last night, even in the dark,” he told Sky Sport Italia. When they arrived from Italy on Wednesday, the floodlights weren’t even on for their media duties.
“We couldn’t do much more than that. No sense risking injuries. We got the win, but it’s just a one-goal advantage.”
He’s already looking ahead to the return leg at the Dall’Ara. Hopefully, we do better at home. Honestly, every time we play there lately, it feels like we’re cursed.”
That away win gives Bologna a solid edge heading into Thursday’s second leg.
Things weren’t looking great for them at the start of 2026. Just two wins in fourteen matches – it was rough. Now, after beating Torino 2-1 away in Serie A and tonight’s win, they finally have some momentum.
“These two wins gave us a boost. It’s tough keeping your spirits up when you’re losing all the time and playing every three days. It chips away at the confidence you’ve built up,” Italiano said.
“Tonight, the team played with real maturity. I hope this becomes our standard. Start with the right attitude, and stay focused. We’re not giving up as many chances now, and that’s the difference. We have to keep that up.”
Castro’s on fire too; he’s scored in three straight games and made a point of celebrating with his coach tonight.
“Santi brings something special. He’s hungry. You see it at every training session, every minute he’s on the pitch. He’s even talking football on the bus,” Italiano said.
“It’s a joy to work with young players who are this hungry and willing to help the team. I’m thrilled he’s scoring consistently now.
“He’s so mature for his age. As a centre-forward, he sacrifices a lot for the team off the ball. I always tell him that hard work pays off. Just keep at it.”
Back in November, when these teams faced off in the group stage, it finished 0-0. Bologna had more chances, even with ten men for over an hour. That draw stung; they barely missed out on direct qualification for the Europa League Round of 16.
“We played a tough match against Torino last week because we couldn’t afford another slip-up,” Italiano said.
“These guys showed focus, grit, and a willingness to sacrifice. That's all I want from now until the end of the season. We’ve paid dearly for mistakes and slipped in the Serie A standings, but we can turn things around, especially at home.”
WHY LORENZO PELLEGRINI’S FUTURE AT ROMA HANGS IN THE BALANCE THIS SUMMER SEASON
AS Roma director Frederic Massara gives an update on Lorenzo Pellegrini’s expiring contract. Is a Juventus move on the cards for him?
Lorenzo Pellegrini recently spoke about his strong connection with Juventus manager Luciano Spalletti, while Roma’s director Frederic Massara hinted that extending the midfielder’s contract remains a possibility.
Pellegrini’s deal with Roma is set to expire this June, alongside contracts for Paulo Dybala, Stephan El Shaarawy, and Zeki Celik.
Regarding updates on contract extensions through 2026, Massara mentioned during the Inside The Sport 2026 event, as reported by Calciomercato.com, that discussions are ongoing with all four players and their agents. He noted the club has been addressing these matters in recent weeks and will evaluate if there is mutual interest and suitable conditions to continue working together. Essentially, nothing is decided yet.
This season at the Stadio Olimpico, Pellegrini has experienced some highs and lows but still managed to appear in 33 matches across all competitions, contributing seven goals and four assists.
Roma remain contenders for a Champions League spot but currently sit five points behind Juventus, who occupy fourth place.
Pellegrini expressed his wish for a top-four finish with Roma, emphasising that the focus has been on the team’s own performance rather than the standings. He acknowledged the current situation isn’t entirely within their control, so the best course is to concentrate on winning the remaining games and see how things unfold.
The well-publicised clash between Claudio Ranieri and Gian Piero Gasperini seems to have further energised Roma’s coach, according to Pellegrini. He described Spalletti as even more motivated heading into the final stretch, stressing the importance of being in peak form on the pitch to tackle upcoming challenges.
There have been rumours linking Pellegrini with Juventus as they seek to strengthen their midfield options. The Italian international established a strong rapport with Spalletti during the coach’s second tenure at Roma.
Pellegrini wrapped up by reaffirming his positive relationship with Spalletti, recalling the great moments they shared and his respect not only for the coach’s tactical abilities but also for his character beyond the field.
MARCO PALESTRA REFUSES TO LET INTER RUMORS DISTRACT FROM CAGLIARI’S RELEGATION BATTLE
Marco Palestra addresses Inter Milan rumours. Read why the Atalanta loanee is prioritising Cagliari's safety.
Marco Palestra isn’t shutting the door on a move to Inter this summer, but right now, his mind’s on one thing: saving Cagliari’s spot in Serie A. “We’ll see in the summer,” he said.
This season’s been a bit of a whirlwind for him. At just 21, he’s made a serious name for himself, breaking through during his loan at Cagliari and earning his first runs with Italy’s national team. Sure, the World Cup play-off loss in Bosnia still stings for everyone, but it hasn’t stopped the buzz around Palestra’s future.
He’s still under contract at Atalanta until 2029, but after his performances, clubs have started circling, especially Inter, who look set to take the league. At an event in Coverciano on Monday, reporters pressed him about his plans. Palestra kept it close to the chest, just saying it’s flattering to hear big clubs are interested, and he’ll figure it out in the summer.
“I honestly didn’t imagine this at the start of the season,” Palestra said. “I was just trying to focus day by day, just trying to get better and not thinking too far ahead.” He still sees room to grow, which makes sense given his age. “Everyone at 21 has a lot to learn. I need to improve in everything, really. I’ve had two seasons now in Serie A, and there’s always more to pick up from my teammates and coach.”
The Inter rumours keep swirling, but when you ask him about it, his answer’s steady: it’s about Cagliari right now. “I’m only thinking about Cagliari. Safety comes first. The rumours are flattering, sure, but we’ll handle all that later.” He echoed it again: “I’m 100% focused on Cagliari. They deserve that. I’ll talk things through with my agents when the season’s done, but I don’t want any distractions right now.”
The sting of Italy missing the World Cup again is still fresh for him. “The loss in Bosnia was a heavy blow for all of us. The days after weren’t easy. But we have to regroup and come back stronger. This group is special, and we’ll help each other recover and improve.”
As for how he handled the disappointment? “It was tough, especially at first. I just stayed home, replaying what went wrong over and over. But I had to snap out of it for Cagliari’s sake. Now, staying up in Serie A is all that matters.”
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