UEFA Europa League League Stage - 3

FCSB 1 - 2 FT Bologna

Arena Nationala

Match previews and recaps to help you decide which games are worth watching

Futmetrix Verdict
53
FT
Thu, Oct 23
FCSB
1-2
Bologna
⚡ Intensity 59
⚖️ Balance 34
🏆 Stakes 0
🎲 Upset 0
Bologna's early blitz secures vital points.

Dallinga Masterclass Sparks Bologna's Roman Conquest

Average Entertainment Futmetrix Score: 53/100. Bologna's devastating three-minute early blitz proved just enough to survive a spirited Romanian resurgence at the National Arena.

The Early Blitz

Bologna wasted absolutely no time silencing the National Arena, turning the Stakes of this European tie into an immediate nightmare for the hosts. The visitors edged possession overall but struck early with ruthless efficiency. In the ninth minute, J. Odgaard finished off a slick move orchestrated by T. Dallinga. Barely giving FCSB a moment to breathe, Dallinga turned from provider to executioner just three minutes later, doubling the advantage. This rapid-fire double completely tilted the Balance of the tie, leaving the home side shell-shocked. The Italian outfit looked poised to run away with a heavy victory, generating a barrage of shots and controlling the tempo perfectly through the remainder of the first half.

The Goalkeeper's Resistance

The second half demanded a massive response, and the hosts found it through an inspired tactical switch. Substitute D. Birligea was introduced right after the interval and instantly changed the complexion of the match, dragging his team back into the contest with a crucial strike in the 54th minute. Suddenly, the Intensity skyrocketed. The match evolved into a thrilling, end-to-end spectacle marked by high shot volume and defensive desperation. Keeping the hosts' hopes alive was an absolute masterclass from Ștefan Târnovanu. The goalkeeper was a one-man wall, pulling off six vital saves to deny the visitors the kill-shot and ensuring the tension remained thick until the final whistle.

European Ambitions

Despite heavy corner pressure and a valiant push from the home side, the visiting side displayed remarkable tactical maturity to see out the remainder of the match. There was always a lingering Upset Factor given the narrow margin, but Bologna navigated the final phases with composure. This hard-fought 2-1 victory solidifies their push for the knockout rounds, bumping them to a comfortable playoff spot while piling misery on FCSB's faltering continental campaign. It was a classic clash of halves—an early Italian masterclass followed by Romanian resilience—but ultimately, those first twelve minutes dictated the entirety of the narrative.

Key Questions

How did substitute Ștefan Târnovanu change the game?

Târnovanu actually started in goal, producing six vital saves. It was substitute D. Birligea who changed the outfield dynamic, scoring in the 54th minute to spark a fightback.

What is the Futmetrix Score?

The Futmetrix Score is our 0-100 verdict on how entertaining a match is. We look at intensity, balance, stakes, and star quality to tell you if it's worth your time.

Match Statistics

Possession
46%
54%
FCSB 46%
Bologna 54%
Shots
9
21
FCSB 9
Bologna 21
Shots on Target
6
7
FCSB 6
Bologna 7
Expected Goals (xG)
0.66
1.72
FCSB 0.66
Bologna 1.72
Passes
353
407
FCSB 353
Bologna 407
Pass Accuracy
79%
82%
FCSB 79%
Bologna 82%
Corners
4
10
FCSB 4
Bologna 10
Fouls
18
20
FCSB 18
Bologna 20
Yellow Cards
3
5
FCSB 3
Bologna 5
Red Cards
0
0
FCSB 0
Bologna 0

Match Events

J. Odgaard (T. Dallinga) 9'
T. Dallinga 12'
Torbjørn Heggem 🟨 16'
Jonathan Rowe 🟨 26'
28' 🟨 David Miculescu
Jens Odgaard 🟨 40'
HT
46' 🔄 J. Cisotti D. Birligea
46' 🔄 A. Sut F. Tanase
J. Rowe N. Cambiaghi 🔄 46'
T. Heggem M. Vitik 🔄 46'
54' D. Birligea
64' 🔄 M. Thiam O. Popescu
N. Zortea E. Holm 🔄 67'
N. Moro L. Ferguson 🔄 77'
R. Orsolini F. Bernardeschi 🔄 85'
87' 🟨 Octavian Popescu
87' 🔄 D. Olaru D. Politic
90'+1 🟨 Risto Radunović
FT

Player Cards

Our take on every player in this match

FCSB

Goalkeepers
S. Tarnovanu
PROVOCATEUR
PROVOCATEUR
1
Fouls Won
1
Fouls Won
3
Duels Won
0
Pens Won
Defenders
A. Pantea
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
S. Ngezana
PROVOCATEUR
PROVOCATEUR
3
Fouls Won
3
Fouls Won
5
Duels Won
0
Pens Won
M. Lixandru
PROVOCATEUR
PROVOCATEUR
2
Fouls Won
2
Fouls Won
8
Duels Won
0
Pens Won
R. Radunovic
WALL
WALL
0
Dribbled Past
0
Dribbled Past
5
Tackles
71%
Duel Win %
Midfielders
B. Alhassan
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
A. Sut
STORMTROOPER
STORMTROOPER
2
Shots
2
Shots
0
Goals
1
On Target
D. Miculescu
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
D. Olaru
PROVOCATEUR
PROVOCATEUR
8
Fouls Won
8
Fouls Won
8
Duels Won
0
Pens Won
J. Cisotti
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
45
Total Mins
46
Entry
Forwards
M. Thiam
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
64
Total Mins
64
Entry
BENCH
M. Udrea
SPECTATOR
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
L. Zima
SPECTATOR
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
D. Kiki
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
D. Graovac
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
F. Tanase
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
45
Total Mins
Started
Entry
D. Alibec
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
D. Birligea
SUPER SUB
SUPER SUB
1
Goal
1
Goal
45
Minutes
7.2
Rating
D. Politic
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
9
Total Mins
Started
Entry
O. Popescu
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
26
Total Mins
Started
Entry

Bologna

Goalkeepers
L. Skorupski
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Defenders
N. Zortea
ARCHITECT
ARCHITECT
2
Key Passes
2
Key Passes
0
Assists
20%
Pass Acc
T. Heggem
STORMTROOPER
STORMTROOPER
1
Shots
1
Shots
0
Goals
0
On Target
J. Lucumi
STORMTROOPER
STORMTROOPER
1
Shots
1
Shots
0
Goals
1
On Target
C. Lykogiannis
ARCHITECT
ARCHITECT
2
Key Passes
2
Key Passes
0
Assists
26%
Pass Acc
Midfielders
R. Freuler
MAGNET
MAGNET
68
Activity
68
Activity
61
Passes
7
Duels
N. Moro
ARCHITECT
ARCHITECT
4
Key Passes
4
Key Passes
0
Assists
38%
Pass Acc
R. Orsolini
STORMTROOPER
STORMTROOPER
3
Shots
3
Shots
0
Goals
1
On Target
J. Odgaard
FINISHER
FINISHER
1
Goals
1
Goals
4
Shots
6.9
Rating
J. Rowe
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
45
Total Mins
46
Entry
Forwards
T. Dallinga
SNIPER
SNIPER
50%
Conversion
50%
Conversion
1
Goals
2
Shots
BENCH
F. Ravaglia
SPECTATOR
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
M. Pessina
SPECTATOR
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
E. Holm
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
23
Total Mins
Started
Entry
N. Casale
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
J. Miranda
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
M. Vitik
WALL
WALL
0
Dribbled Past
0
Dribbled Past
3
Tackles
62%
Duel Win %
T. Pobega
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
L. Ferguson
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
13
Total Mins
Started
Entry
G. Fabbian
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
S. Castro
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
F. Bernardeschi
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
10
Total Mins
Started
Entry
N. Cambiaghi
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
45
Total Mins
Started
Entry

League Standings

Pos Team P Pts GF GA GD Form
1 FC Midtjylland 3 9 8 2 +6 WMaccabi Tel Aviv 0 - 3 FC Midtjylland (23-10-2025)WNottingham Forest 2 - 3 FC Midtjylland (02-10-2025)WFC Midtjylland 2 - 0 Sturm Graz (24-09-2025)
2 Lyon 3 9 5 0 +5 WLyon 2 - 0 FC Basel 1893 (23-10-2025)WLyon 2 - 0 Red Bull Salzburg (02-10-2025)WUtrecht 0 - 1 Lyon (25-09-2025)
3 SC Braga 3 9 5 0 +5 WSC Braga 2 - 0 FK Crvena Zvezda (23-10-2025)WCeltic 0 - 2 SC Braga (02-10-2025)WSC Braga 1 - 0 Feyenoord (24-09-2025)
4 Dinamo Zagreb 3 7 7 3 +4 DMalmo FF 1 - 1 Dinamo Zagreb (23-10-2025)WMaccabi Tel Aviv 1 - 3 Dinamo Zagreb (02-10-2025)WDinamo Zagreb 3 - 1 Fenerbahçe (24-09-2025)
5 Plzen 3 7 6 2 +4 WAS Roma 1 - 2 Plzen (23-10-2025)WPlzen 3 - 0 Malmo FF (02-10-2025)DFerencvarosi TC 1 - 1 Plzen (25-09-2025)
6 SC Freiburg 3 7 5 2 +3 WSC Freiburg 2 - 0 Utrecht (23-10-2025)DBologna 1 - 1 SC Freiburg (02-10-2025)WSC Freiburg 2 - 1 FC Basel 1893 (24-09-2025)
7 Ferencvarosi TC 3 7 5 3 +2 WRed Bull Salzburg 2 - 3 Ferencvarosi TC (23-10-2025)WGenk 0 - 1 Ferencvarosi TC (02-10-2025)DFerencvarosi TC 1 - 1 Plzen (25-09-2025)
8 Brann 3 6 5 2 +3 WBrann 3 - 0 Rangers (23-10-2025)WBrann 1 - 0 Utrecht (02-10-2025)LLille 2 - 1 Brann (25-09-2025)
9 Celta Vigo 3 6 6 4 +2 WCelta Vigo 2 - 1 Nice (23-10-2025)WCelta Vigo 3 - 1 PAOK (02-10-2025)LVfB Stuttgart 2 - 1 Celta Vigo (25-09-2025)
10 Aston Villa 3 6 4 2 +2 LGO Ahead Eagles 2 - 1 Aston Villa (23-10-2025)WFeyenoord 0 - 2 Aston Villa (02-10-2025)WAston Villa 1 - 0 Bologna (25-09-2025)
11 Lille 3 6 6 5 +1 LLille 3 - 4 PAOK (23-10-2025)WAS Roma 0 - 1 Lille (02-10-2025)WLille 2 - 1 Brann (25-09-2025)
12 GO Ahead Eagles 3 6 4 3 +1 WGO Ahead Eagles 2 - 1 Aston Villa (23-10-2025)WPanathinaikos 1 - 2 GO Ahead Eagles (02-10-2025)LGO Ahead Eagles 0 - 1 FCSB (25-09-2025)
13 BSC Young Boys 3 6 6 6 0 WBSC Young Boys 3 - 2 Ludogorets (23-10-2025)WFCSB 0 - 2 BSC Young Boys (02-10-2025)LBSC Young Boys 1 - 4 Panathinaikos (25-09-2025)
14 Fenerbahçe 3 6 4 4 0 WFenerbahçe 1 - 0 VfB Stuttgart (23-10-2025)WFenerbahçe 2 - 1 Nice (02-10-2025)LDinamo Zagreb 3 - 1 Fenerbahçe (24-09-2025)
15 FC Porto 3 6 3 3 0 LNottingham Forest 2 - 0 FC Porto (23-10-2025)WFC Porto 2 - 1 FK Crvena Zvezda (02-10-2025)WRed Bull Salzburg 0 - 1 FC Porto (25-09-2025)
16 Real Betis 3 5 4 2 +2 DGenk 0 - 0 Real Betis (23-10-2025)WLudogorets 0 - 2 Real Betis (02-10-2025)DReal Betis 2 - 2 Nottingham Forest (24-09-2025)
17 Nottingham Forest 3 4 6 5 +1 WNottingham Forest 2 - 0 FC Porto (23-10-2025)LNottingham Forest 2 - 3 FC Midtjylland (02-10-2025)DReal Betis 2 - 2 Nottingham Forest (24-09-2025)
18 Bologna 3 4 3 3 0 WFCSB 1 - 2 Bologna (23-10-2025)DBologna 1 - 1 SC Freiburg (02-10-2025)LAston Villa 1 - 0 Bologna (25-09-2025)
19 Genk 3 4 1 1 0 DGenk 0 - 0 Real Betis (23-10-2025)LGenk 0 - 1 Ferencvarosi TC (02-10-2025)WRangers 0 - 1 Genk (25-09-2025)
20 PAOK 3 4 5 6 -1 WLille 3 - 4 PAOK (23-10-2025)LCelta Vigo 3 - 1 PAOK (02-10-2025)DPAOK 0 - 0 Maccabi Tel Aviv (24-09-2025)
21 Celtic 3 4 3 4 -1 WCeltic 2 - 1 Sturm Graz (23-10-2025)LCeltic 0 - 2 SC Braga (02-10-2025)DFK Crvena Zvezda 1 - 1 Celtic (24-09-2025)
22 Panathinaikos 3 3 6 6 0 LFeyenoord 3 - 1 Panathinaikos (23-10-2025)LPanathinaikos 1 - 2 GO Ahead Eagles (02-10-2025)WBSC Young Boys 1 - 4 Panathinaikos (25-09-2025)
23 Feyenoord 3 3 3 4 -1 WFeyenoord 3 - 1 Panathinaikos (23-10-2025)LFeyenoord 0 - 2 Aston Villa (02-10-2025)LSC Braga 1 - 0 Feyenoord (24-09-2025)
24 AS Roma 3 3 3 4 -1 LAS Roma 1 - 2 Plzen (23-10-2025)LAS Roma 0 - 1 Lille (02-10-2025)WNice 1 - 2 AS Roma (24-09-2025)
25 FC Basel 1893 3 3 3 4 -1 LLyon 2 - 0 FC Basel 1893 (23-10-2025)WFC Basel 1893 2 - 0 VfB Stuttgart (02-10-2025)LSC Freiburg 2 - 1 FC Basel 1893 (24-09-2025)
26 Ludogorets 3 3 4 6 -2 LBSC Young Boys 3 - 2 Ludogorets (23-10-2025)LLudogorets 0 - 2 Real Betis (02-10-2025)WMalmo FF 1 - 2 Ludogorets (24-09-2025)
27 Sturm Graz 3 3 3 5 -2 LCeltic 2 - 1 Sturm Graz (23-10-2025)WSturm Graz 2 - 1 Rangers (02-10-2025)LFC Midtjylland 2 - 0 Sturm Graz (24-09-2025)
28 VfB Stuttgart 3 3 2 4 -2 LFenerbahçe 1 - 0 VfB Stuttgart (23-10-2025)LFC Basel 1893 2 - 0 VfB Stuttgart (02-10-2025)WVfB Stuttgart 2 - 1 Celta Vigo (25-09-2025)
29 FCSB 3 3 2 4 -2 LFCSB 1 - 2 Bologna (23-10-2025)LFCSB 0 - 2 BSC Young Boys (02-10-2025)WGO Ahead Eagles 0 - 1 FCSB (25-09-2025)
30 FK Crvena Zvezda 3 1 2 5 -3 LSC Braga 2 - 0 FK Crvena Zvezda (23-10-2025)LFC Porto 2 - 1 FK Crvena Zvezda (02-10-2025)DFK Crvena Zvezda 1 - 1 Celtic (24-09-2025)
31 Malmo FF 3 1 2 6 -4 DMalmo FF 1 - 1 Dinamo Zagreb (23-10-2025)LPlzen 3 - 0 Malmo FF (02-10-2025)LMalmo FF 1 - 2 Ludogorets (24-09-2025)
32 Maccabi Tel Aviv 3 1 1 6 -5 LMaccabi Tel Aviv 0 - 3 FC Midtjylland (23-10-2025)LMaccabi Tel Aviv 1 - 3 Dinamo Zagreb (02-10-2025)DPAOK 0 - 0 Maccabi Tel Aviv (24-09-2025)
33 Nice 3 0 3 6 -3 LCelta Vigo 2 - 1 Nice (23-10-2025)LFenerbahçe 2 - 1 Nice (02-10-2025)LNice 1 - 2 AS Roma (24-09-2025)
34 Red Bull Salzburg 3 0 2 6 -4 LRed Bull Salzburg 2 - 3 Ferencvarosi TC (23-10-2025)LLyon 2 - 0 Red Bull Salzburg (02-10-2025)LRed Bull Salzburg 0 - 1 FC Porto (25-09-2025)
35 Utrecht 3 0 0 4 -4 LSC Freiburg 2 - 0 Utrecht (23-10-2025)LBrann 1 - 0 Utrecht (02-10-2025)LUtrecht 0 - 1 Lyon (25-09-2025)
36 Rangers 3 0 1 6 -5 LBrann 3 - 0 Rangers (23-10-2025)LSturm Graz 2 - 1 Rangers (02-10-2025)LRangers 0 - 1 Genk (25-09-2025)