Romelu Lukaku needed two attempts to get the opening Inter goal, but Bologna had a couple of good opportunities.
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The leaders had their last game with Sassuolo postponed due to a COVID outbreak, but Samir Handanovic and Stefan de Vrij recovered, with Matteo Darmian and Matias Vecino still out. Ivan Perisic and Arturo Vidal were injured. Bologna goalkeeper Lukasz Skorupski contracted COVID on international duty with Poland, so was ruled out with Aaron Hickey, Federico Santander, Ibrahima Mbaye and Gary Medel.
Bologna had timid early penalty appeals for an Andrea Ranocchia light push on Musa Barrow, while Roberto Soriano failed to make the most of a Skov Olsen knockdown at the back post.
Inter took the lead with their first genuine chance, as Alessandro Bastoni whipped in a cross from the left for Lukaku’s header, Nicola Ravaglia managed an extraordinary save to push it onto the upright from point-blank range, but the Belgian tapped in the rebound.
Bologna’s night went from bad to worse, as Takehiro Tomiyasu went off moments later with an injury.
Andrea Ranocchia nodded a Christian Eriksen corner just wide, while Handanovic flapped a Jerdy Schouten effort over the bar from the edge of the box after a smart Musa Barrow back-heel flick.
Roberto Soriano wasted a golden opportunity on the resulting corner, somehow firing over from six yards.
Bologna 0-1 Inter (Half-Time)
Lukaku 31 (I)
Bologna: Ravaglia; Tomiyasu, Danilo, Soumaoro, Dijks; Schouten, Dominguez; Skov Olsen, Soriano, Sansone; Barrow
Inter: Handanovic; Skriniar, Ranocchia, A Bastoni; Hakimi, Barella, Brozovic, Eriksen, Young; Lukaku, Lautaro Martinez
Ref: Giacomelli