Bologna beat Lecce 2-0 as Freuler helps secure Serie A win
Quick summary
Bologna defeated Lecce 2-0 in Serie A, with Remo Freuler highlighted as a key contributor to the victory.
Full article
Attributed to Football ItaliaRemo Freuler’s tap-in and a stoppage-time Riccardo Orsolini goal ultimately proved enough for Bologna to beat Lecce, who remain in the relegation zone.
Read Football Italia Ad-Free and get access to Exclusive News and Content – Free Trial – Click Here The Rossoblu were shaken by Thursday’s heavy 3-1 home defeat to Aston Villa in the Europa League quarter-final, so with the second leg coming up next week, had to turn their focus back to Serie A . Lewis Ferguson sat out a ban, with Thijs Dallinga, Charalampos Lykogiannis, Lukasz Skorupski, Benjamin Dominguez and Eivind Helland injured. Goalkeeper Massimo Pessina was given his first Serie A start. Lecce were in crisis after three consecutive losses and dropped into the relegation zone. Antonino Gallo returned to the squad, but Riccardo Sottil, Francesco Camarda, Kialonda Gaspar and Medon Berisha were still sidelined.
See how it all unfolded on the Liveblog.
Tiago Gabriel at full stretch prevented Santiago Castro tapping in the Riccardo Orsolini cross from six yards, but Nikola Stulic went clear on the counter-attack only to be denied by a fantastic one-handed save from 18-year-old Pessina.
Ylber Ramadani blasted just over, but Bologna took the lead in somewhat chaotic fashion.
BOLOGNA, ITALY – APRIL 12: Eusebio Di Francesco, Head Coach of US Lecce, gestures to his players during the Serie A match between Bologna FC 1909 and US Lecce at Renato Dall’Ara Stadium on April 12, 2026 in Bologna, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images) Jhon Lucumi’s ball over the top was ignored by Castro in an offside position, allowing Orsolini to run onto it and smash onto the underside of the bar with a lob, but Remo Freuler was ready to turn in the rebound.
Bologna started to put together a run of chances, as Nicolò Casale couldn’t keep his header down on a Nikola Moro free kick, then Orsolini tested Wladimiro Falcone at the near post after a series of stepovers.
Lecce were dangerous on the counter after the restart, Moro needing a desperate tackle to prevent Santiago Pierotti meeting the Stulic pull-back. On the resulting corner, Antonino Gallo was penalised because when trying to keep the ball from going out, he accidental clattered into the linesman.
BOLOGNA, ITALY – APRIL 12: Riccardo Orsolini of Bologna is challenged by Corrie Ndaba of US Lecce during the Serie A match between Bologna FC 1909 and US Lecce at Renato Dall’Ara Stadium on April 12, 2026 in Bologna, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images) Bologna kept pushing, as Castro’s shot was charged down by Jamil Siebert, then he just failed to get on the end of a cross from six yards, while Falcone stuck out a boot to deny Orsolini at the near post.
Orsolini took too long to get the Juan Miranda pull-back under control and it was eventually blocked off by a defender inside the penalty area.
BOLOGNA, ITALY – APRIL 12: Riccardo Orsolini of Bologna reacts during the Serie A match between Bologna FC 1909 and US Lecce at Renato Dall’Ara Stadium on April 12, 2026 in Bologna, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images) Castro had the ball in the net on 82 minutes, but the referee had already stopped play for a soft Orsolini nudge when robbing Ramadani at the by-line.
Orsolini desperately wanted to end his goal drought and he got it in stoppages. Ramadani was clumsy when firing a free kick onto the back of Miranda, so Federico Bernardeschi pounced on the ricochet and immediately sent Orsolini down the right to score.
Bologna 2-0 Lecce Freuler 26 (B), Orsolini 92 (B)
12-04-2026 17:00
MatchDay 32
Renato Dall'Ara Stadium
Bologna
Lecce
2 - 0
Player statistic
1st half
Remo Freuler
26'
36'
Oumar Ngom
38'
Jamil Siebert
2nd half
Riccardo Orsolini (Assist: Federico Bernardeschi)
90+2'
Bologna
Lecce
Starting lineups
25
Massimo Pessina Goalkeeper
26
Jhon Lucumí Defender
17
João Mário Defender
66'
33
Juan Miranda Defender
16
Nicolò Casale Defender
6
Nikola Moro Midfielder
85'
8
Remo Freuler Midfielder
23
Simon Sohm Midfielder
74'
28
Nicolò Cambiaghi Attacker
74'
7
Riccardo Orsolini Attacker
9
Santiago Castro Attacker
85'
30
Wladimiro Falcone Goalkeeper
3
Corrie Ndaba Defender
46'
17
Danilo Veiga Defender
5
Jamil Siebert Defender
44
Tiago Gabriel Defender
29
Lassana Coulibaly Midfielder
79
Oumar Ngom Midfielder
46'
20
Ylber Ramadani Midfielder
19
Lameck Banda Attacker
64'
9
Nikola Stulic Attacker
64'
50
Santiago Pierotti Attacker
83'
Substitutes
29
Lorenzo De Silvestri Defender
13
Federico Ravaglia Goalkeeper
41
Martin Vitik Defender
14
Torbjørn Heggem Defender
82
Matteo Franceschelli Goalkeeper
73
Francesco Castaldo Attacker
20
Nadir Zortea Defender
66'
4
Tommaso Pobega Midfielder
74'
11
Jonathan Rowe Midfielder
74'
10
Federico Bernardeschi Attacker
85'
21
Jens Odgaard Attacker
85'
14
Thórir Jóhann Helgason Midfielder
32
Jasper Samooja Goalkeeper
1
Christian Früchtl Goalkeeper
36
Filip Marchwinski Midfielder
18
Gaby Jean Defender
8
Sadik Fofana Defender
13
Matías Pérez Defender
80
Niko Kovač Midfielder
25
Antonino Gallo Defender
46'
16
Omri Gandelman Midfielder
46'
99
Walid Cheddira Attacker
64'
11
Konan N’Dri Attacker
64'
6
Álex Sala Midfielder
83'
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What happened
Bologna won 2-0 against Lecce in a Serie A match. The report notes Remo Freuler’s role as sufficient in helping Bologna see out the result. The win strengthens Bologna’s league position and provides a positive indicator of their current performance level. For Lecce, the loss adds pressure and suggests difficulties in generating enough to change the game.
Chance analysis
A controlled 2-0 win signals Bologna are executing game management effectively, which tends to reduce downside variance in match result and total-goals markets. Freuler being singled out suggests midfield stability, supporting Bologna’s ability to protect leads and limit opponent chances. Lecce’s defeat implies continued vulnerability, particularly if they struggle to progress the ball or create sustained threat away from home.
This result is likely mildly positive for Bologna’s near-term pricing and mildly negative for Lecce’s, especially in matchup and goals-suppression expectations.
Upgrade Bologna’s baseline strength slightly (especially defensive control) and downgrade Lecce’s away outlook after a straightforward 0-2 loss.