Bologna won on the day with Riccardo Orsolini, but Atalanta are in the Conference League anyway thanks to a superior head-to-head record.
This was a head-to-head for seventh place and Conference League qualification, even if the six-point gap made it practically a foregone conclusion for La Dea. Isak Hien was suspended, with Odilon Kossounou and Lorenzo Bernasconi injured. The Rossoblu were fresh from a 3-2 victory away to Napoli, with Jhon Lucumi sitting out a ban, Martin Vitik, Nicolò Cambiaghi and Nicolò Casale not fully fit.
See how it all unfolded on the Liveblog.
BERGAMO, ITALY – MAY 17: Raffaele Palladino Head coach of Atalanta looks on during the Serie A match between Atalanta BC and Bologna FC 1909 at Gewiss Stadium on May 17, 2026 in Bergamo, Italy. (Photo by Giuseppe Cottini/Getty Images)
Berat Djimsiti was unable to make the most of a Charles De Ketelaere cross to the back post, then Lukasz Skorupski came flying outside his area to nod the ball away from Davide Zappacosta.
Federico Bernardeschi’s daisy-cutter from outside the penalty area flashed inches wide and Jonathan Rowe’s strike was too close to Marco Carnesecchi.
BERGAMO, ITALY – MAY 17: Jonathan Rowe of Bologna FC in action during the Serie A match between Atalanta BC and Bologna FC 1909 at Gewiss Stadium on May 17, 2026 in Bergamo, Italy. (Photo by Giuseppe Cottini/Getty Images)
Nicola Zalewski’s right-foot curler was just over the crossbar, but Carnesecchi got down in a flash for an extraordinary save to fingertip the Rowe angled drive inched round the far post.
In first half stoppages, the Atalanta goalkeeper again was so quick to get to ground and palm away the Santiago Castro turn and strike from 12 yards.
BERGAMO, ITALY – MAY 17: Santiago Castro (L) of Bologna FC and Marco Carnesecchi (R) of Atalanta gestures during the Serie A match between Atalanta BC and Bologna FC 1909 at Gewiss Stadium on May 17, 2026 in Bergamo, Italy. (Photo by Giuseppe Cottini/Getty Images)
Carnesecchi was almost caught out by Rowe on a weak Ederson back-pass, but managed to get away with it, while Kamaldeen Sulemana nodded a Zappacosta cross just wide.
Bologna took the lead in the final stages when Rowe floated a ball to the back post for the Riccardo Orsolini volley from a tight angle, springing the offside trap after a free kick was taken short.
Mitchel Bakker made his comeback after a long injury lay-off and within 60 seconds had a chance to equalise, only grazing his head to a cross.
Nikola Krstovic sprung the offside trap on a through ball in stoppages only to be denied one-on-one by Skorupski.
BERGAMO, ITALY – MAY 17: Ederson of Atalanta in action during the Serie A match between Atalanta BC and Bologna FC 1909 at Gewiss Stadium on May 17, 2026 in Bergamo, Italy. (Photo by Giuseppe Cottini/Getty Images)
If it had been a 2-0 result, that would’ve kicked the situation down the road to the final round, but like this Atalanta cannot be leapfrogged by Bologna in the table due to their head-to-head record.
Atalanta 0-1 Bologna
Orsolini 78 (B)
