Bologna vs. Inter Milan: 6 Things We Learned

It was a game that Inter should have won, but the best they could manage away to Bologna was a 1-1 draw.

Bologna are without a win in this fixture since February 2002, but will feel that the draw was some measure of success considering they've only drawn one and lost eight in the last nine home matches with the Nerazzurri.

Walter Mazzarri will have several questions to ask himself and his team, but what can be taken away from the game? 

Mazzarri Needs to Work on His Squad's Finishing

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Inter really should have won this game. Curci was excellent in goal and Bologna were tidy and well-drilled in general, but the Nerazzurri spurned several great chances to put the game beyond the hosts. 

Bologna's goal was a classic counter-attack from Inter’s corner, against the run of play. Exactly the sort of aggressive and incisive play that Mazzarri needs from Inter. 

Rodrigo Palacio looked bright enough and on another night could have had a couple of goals. Curci denied a great shot right after Kone's goal but was nowhere when the Argentine's header from a Jonathan cross went just inches wide. 

Alvaro Pereira and Taïder were both guilty of being wasteful in possession, and on the night there was no one in the squad who seemed willing or able to make the decisive strike.

Esteban Cambiasso, Juan Jesus, Rolando and Fredy Guarin all had opportunities as well. Even their equaliser only came thanks to a bit of luck, when Jonathan’s shot took a deflection from Frederik Sørensen.

Inter needs to be more clinical if they want to qualify for the UCL. 

This Was a Golden Opportunity Lost

He didn't leave on the best of terms, but former Inter man Antonio Cassano did the Nerazzurri a big favour at the weekend by scoring against Napoli. 

Cassano's strike was the only goal in the game between the Partenopei and Parma, and it condemned Rafa Benítez' side to their second straight defeat. 

It's far from a crisis at the San Paolo, but the loss has allowed Juventus and Roma some breathing space ahead of them, and it was a great chance for Inter to draw level with their southern rivals in third. As it stands, Mazzarri's side are two points behind Napoli—and those points could be vital at the end of the season. 

Saphir Taider Needs to Improve

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If Bologna fans only went on what they saw in this game, they wouldn't be missing Saphir Taïder too much.

The Algerian was terrible throughout; he picked up an early booking needlessly and was lucky to stay on the pitch when he pulled down Alessandro Diamanti in the build-up to Kone's goal. 

Taïder failed to make an impact at Stadio Renato Dall'Ara, as it could be argued he's failed to make an impact yet at Inter. He's only 21, but to hold down a starting place in the Inter squad he needs to improve, and quickly. 

Panagiotis Kone Deserves to Be Noticed

Panagiotis Kone doesn't have a prolific scoring record, but he does tend to score impressively when he does. And now, with three strikes in 12 games this season, he's starting to become more of a threat in the area. 

The Greek was excellent against Inter, doing very well to get on the end of Cristaldo's squared pass. His work rate and intelligence were both apparent on the night, and it wouldn't be a surprise to see a bigger club sniffing around him soon. 

Gianluca Curci Continues to Confuse

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Gianluca Curci has never truly found his place in Italian football. And though his potential was clear to all, it's debatable if he's ever really lived up to it. 

A product of Roma's famed youth academy, Curci was tipped for great things. There continues to be interest on the Peninsula in his development, but it now seems a very long time since everyone was so hopeful about the 19-year-old who took over from Ivan Pelizzoli at the Giallorossi in 2005. 

That said, he was superb against Inter for Bologna, where he's on loan from the Lupi. He was caught off-guard for Jonathan's deflected goal, but he made several good saves throughout, and was always quick off the line to react and deny Inter. 

He's been impressive enough for the Rossoblu since joining them this season, and he is only 28, so there's still time. 

Rolando Is Good in the Air but Poor on the Ground

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You'd expect a Portuguese international to be able to comfortable using his feet, but against Bologna Rolando looked anything but. 

The centre-back—who's on loan from Porto—looked vulnerable whenever Bologna chose to play close football rather than keep it up, and though the 28-year-old was impressive aerially he must work on his skills when he has the ball to foot.