Napoli missed a golden opportunity to secure their place in the top four after suffering a dramatic home defeat to Bologna, a result that throws the battle for UEFA Champions League qualification wide open heading into the final stretch of the season.

Playing without both Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku, the hosts still welcomed back captain Giovanni Di Lorenzo, whose return provided a much-needed boost for the home crowd. But it was Bologna who arrived with greater intensity and sharper execution from the opening whistle.

The visitors struck first through Federico Bernardeschi, who unleashed a thunderous effort beyond the goalkeeper to stun the stadium into silence. Soon after, Riccardo Orsolini doubled the advantage from the penalty spot after a lengthy VAR review confirmed the decision, leaving Napoli facing an uphill battle.

To their credit, the hosts responded with spirit and urgency. Di Lorenzo marked his comeback with a crucial goal to reignite belief before halftime, and in the second half Alisson Santos curled a superb strike into the far corner to bring Napoli level in a match that suddenly burst into life.

Just as the contest appeared destined to end in a tense draw, substitute Rowe produced a moment of pure brilliance. After the goalkeeper managed to parry an initial effort, the forward reacted instantly, launching himself into an acrobatic bicycle kick that flew into the net and sealed a sensational victory for Bologna.

2025-26, Italy - Serie A

Napoli - Bologna 2:3 (1:2)
Goals: Bernardeschi, 9 (0:1); Orsolini, 34 (penalty) (0:2); Di Lorenzo, 45 (1:2); Santos A., 48 (2:2); Rowe J., 90 (2:3)

Napoli: Milinkovic-Savic V.; Gutiérrez M. (Mazzocchi, 87); Buongiorno; Rrahmani Am.; Di Lorenzo; McTominay; Politano (Spinazzola, 84); Lobotka (Gilmour B., 76); Santos A.; Höjlund R.; Giovane (Elmas, 76)
Substitution: Gilmour B. (from 76); Elmas (from 76); Spinazzola (from 84); Mazzocchi (from 87)
Bench: Meret; Contini N.; Juan Jesus; Olivera M.; Beukema; Zambo Anguissa André-Frank; Vergara A.
Yellow Cards: Politano 84

Bologna: Pessina; Helland (Heggem, 82); João Mário Neto (Zortea, 64); Lucumí; Juan Miranda; Pobega (Moro N., 81); Freuler; Ferguson L. (Sohm S., 81); Orsolini; Castro S.; Bernardeschi (Rowe J., 73)
Substitution: Zortea (from 64); Rowe J. (from 73); Moro N. (from 81); Sohm S. (from 81); Heggem (from 82)
Bench: Skorupski; Ravaglia F.; Lykogiannis; De Silvestri; Domínguez B.; Odgaard; Dallinga
Yellow Cards: João Mário Neto 38; Bernardeschi 47; Helland 58; Lucumí 69