Failure to defend set pieces proved to be Chievo's undoing, as Bologna eased their relegation worries with a resounding victory.
Bologna vs Chievo Verona, Final Score 4-0: Chievo capitulate at the Dall’Ara
Bologna snapped a two game losing streak to emphatically beat Chievo Verona 4-0 at the Dall’Ara Stadium.
Goals by Panagiotis Kone, an Alberto Gilardino brace and a late strike by Manolo Gabbiadini saw the Rossoblu avenge their 2-0 loss to the Flying Donkeys back on the opening day of the season.
The home side were without suspended duo Archimede Morleo and Tiberio Guarente and injured trio Saphir Taider, Cesare Natali and Henry Gimenez.
Dario Dainelli sat out a ban for the visitors, who also missed the injured Boukary Drame, Nicolas Frey and Perparim Hetemaj.
Alberto Paloschi and Sergio Pellissier surprisingly both started from the bench as Chievo Coach Eugenio Corini opted to push Kamil Vacek further forward in an adventurous 4-3-3 formation.
The visitors were the first to threaten a goal on five minutes. Cyril Thereau's quick turn and shot from the edge of the area was deflected over.
A slip by Gennaro Sardo gave Gabbiadini the chance to score from six yards, but the angle was tight and the winger's shot shaved the wrong side of the post.
Bologna opened the scoring on 13 minutes. Vacek was caught ball watching as Chievo went to sleep on an Alessandro Diamanti corner, allowing an unmarked Kone to rise up and send a powerful header into the top corner of the net.
An injury to Roberto Guana brought Paloschi into the game, forcing Corini into a tactical reshuffle.
Gyorgy Garics almost headed a Chievo free kick into his own net halfway through the first half. Federico Agliardi was out of position and scrambled back to get the ball, which luckily trickled wide.
Chievo had several chances before the break. Thereau lifted a free kick over the Bologna wall, which Agliardi did well to palm away. Luca Rigoni sliced wide and Bostjan Cesar had appeals for a penalty turned down after claiming he was pushed by Nicolo Cherubin.
The Rossoblu doubled their lead on the stroke of half time. Diego Perez picked Thereau's pocket on the halfway line, before threading through for Gilardino to run clear and coolly lift the ball over the onrushing Stefano Sorrentino into the net.
Agliardi ran out to close the angle and smother from Thereau after Vacek played him in at the start of the second half.
Pellissier came on and imposed himself on the game almost instantly, only to send a disappointing header over in the box.
Gilardino ended the game as a contest on 59 minutes with his second goal. Chievo failed to clear their lines from another Diamanti corner and the frontman swept the ball in from close range.
Kone was unlucky not to net a double, as his glancing header from a Diamanti free kick wasn’t far off target.
Chievo offered some fight during the closing stages. Luciano hoisted a free kick past the post and Paloschi had a goal rightly chalked off for handball in the area. The forward went close once more, striking the post from six yards after Isaac Cofie provided a through ball.
Bologna added a fourth with two minutes left to play. Substitute Michele Pazienza released Gabbiadini, who held off Marco Andreolli to tuck a low shot past Sorrentino at the far post.
Bologna: Agliardi; Garics, Antonsson, Portanova, Cherubin; Khrin, Perez; Diamanti, (Sorensen 87) Kone, (Pazienza 85) Gabbiadini; Gilardino (Acquafresca 78)
Chievo Verona: Sorrentino; Sardo, Andreolli, Cesar, Jokic; Guana, (Paloschi 18) L Rigoni, Cofie; Stoian, (Pellissier 52) Thereau, (Luciano 65) Vacek
Goals: Kone 13 (B) Gilardino 44, 59 (B) Gabbiadini 88 (B)
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