Santiago Castro’s powerful strike secured Bologna’s place in the semi-finals of the Italian Cup with a 1-0 victory over Atalanta on Tuesday. The promising Argentine forward found the net with 10 minutes remaining, converting Charalampos Lykogiannis’ precise cross to give Bologna their first Cup semi-final appearance since 1999.
Under the guidance of coach Vincenzo Italiano, Bologna has had an encouraging season, and their win at Atalanta propelled them into the last four, where they will face either Juventus or Empoli in a two-legged tie set for April. This marks a significant achievement for Bologna, who are seeking their first major trophy since winning the Italian Cup in 1974, their second such title.
Atalanta, the losing finalists in last year’s Cup, have struggled in recent matches, winning only two of their last 10 games across all competitions. Their loss to Bologna has dashed their hopes of adding silverware to their season, further compounded by the confirmation that key players Gianluca Scamacca and Giorgio Scalvini will miss the rest of the season due to surgery, as announced by CEO Luca Percassi.
