Motta off to a losing start as Bologna coach

Milan, Sept 17, 2022 (AFP) - Former Italian international Thiago Motta's reign as Bologna coach started with a disappointing 1-0 home defeat in Serie A against Empoli on Saturday.

Motta, 40, took over from Sinisa Mihajlovic this week with the club struggling with just one win from seven games this campaign.

Filippo Bandinelli broke the deadlock with quarter of an hour to go in Bologna following a fumble from home goalkeeper Lukasz Skorupski.

Marko Arnautovic was denied the equaliser by the post minutes later with Joshua Zirkzee hitting the crossbar late.

Bologna fell to their third defeat in seven matches, as they slide towards the relegation zone. Empoli claimed their first win of the campaign to move up to 11th.

Brazil-born Motta, a former FC Barcelona, Inter Milan and Paris Saint-Germain midfielder, started his coaching career in 2018, with spells at the PSG under-19 team, and Italian clubs Genoa and Spezia.

On Sunday, AC Milan take on Serie A title rivals Napoli with both sides level on 14 points along with Atalanta, who head for Roma.

Inter Milan, in sixth, head for Udinese, who are just one point behind the leading trio, while crisis-club Juventus travel to bottom club Monza.