Bologna defeated Empoli with a late 2-1 win in the second leg of the 2024/25 Coppa Italia semi-final at the Stadio Renato Dall'Ara on Thursday and advanced to the final.

In the first half, Fabbian scored with a header and Kovalenko scored through a volley. In the second half, Dallinga scored with a header. In the end, Bologna defeated Empoli with a 2-1 win (aggregate score: Bologna won 5-1) and advanced to the final where they will face AC Milan.

First Half

In the 7th minute, Nikola Moro crossed from the edge of the byline at the right side of the box. Giovanni Fabbian rose high and scored with a header very close distance in the box. Bologna broke the deadlock early to take a 1-0 lead!

2 minutes later, Riccardo Orsolini made a long pass from the midfield center circle, the ball was initially blocked and cleared off not far away by Tyrone Ebuehi's header. Nicolò Cambiaghi quickly followed up the loose ball, dribbled into the left side of the box before volleying with his right foot. His shot was was again blocked and cleared off not far away by Ebuehi. After picking up the loose ball, Charalampos Lykogiannis made a left-footed shot from the left side of the box, but his shot was lifted over the crossbar by Jacopo Seghetti with one hand.

In the 12th minute, Ismael Konaté made a diagonal overhead pass from the midfield center circle. After successfully beating the offside trap, Ola Solbakken quickly followed up, got the ball and dribbled into the side of the box before volleying with his left foot, but shot went just slightly wide of the right side of the post.

In the 33rd minute, Junior Sambia made a straight pass from the right wing. Solbakken quickly followed up, got the ball and dribbled into the right side of the box before volleying with his left foot, His shot was initially saved and clered off not far away by the outrushing Federico Ravaglia. After picking up the loose ball, Viktor Kovalenko strucked the ball into the lower center of the empty with his right foot. Empoli equalized Bologna at 1-1!

In the first half, Bologna and Empoli temporarily tied  at 1-1 as they entered the half-time break.

Second Half

Both teams switched sides as the match continued. In the 56th minute, Benjamín Domínguez passes horizontally from the left wing. Nicolò Cambiaghi quickly followed up and upon receiving the pass, volleyed with his right foot in the center of the box, but his shot sailed just slightly higher than the crossbar.

2 minutes later, Remo Frueler passed back horizontally from the left wing. Fabbian quickly followed up, got the ball and took a few steps before taking a long shot with his right foot from outside the penalty area, but his shot was saved by Seghetti.

In the 86th minute, Lykogiannis crossed into the box from the left wing. Thijs Dallinga rose high and scored with a header in the box. Bologna secured the victory at 2-1!

When the final whistle is blown, Bologna defeated Empoli with a late 2-1 win and reached the Coppa Italia final again after 51 years.