Europa League | Bologna 0-0 SK Brann: Heroic effort after red card controversy

Bologna put in a heroic performance down to 10 men for over an hour after a controversial red card, but were unable to break down SK Brann in a 0-0 draw.

The Rossoblu were hoping to build some momentum, as they were unbeaten since September 25 away to Aston Villa in all competition, boosting their European results with a draw against Freiburg and win away to Steaua Bucharest. Remo Freuler and Ciro Immobile were out injured, with Lorenzo De Silvestri, Ibrahim Sulemana and Benjamin Dominguez ineligible. Vincenzo Italiano was back on the touchline after a week in hospital with pneumonia. Norwegians SK Brann lost to Lille, then beat FC Utrecht and Glasgow Rangers. Noah Holm, Felix Horn Myhre, Saevar Atli Magnusson, Jonas Torsvik, Sakarias Opsahl and Niklas Jensen Wassberg did not make the trip.

See how it all unfolded on the Liveblog.

Mathisen prodded a loose ball wide after a scramble, while Federico Bernardeschi pulled back from the by-line to prompt some panicked defending in the six-yard box.

The game was transformed when the referee decided that the Charalampos Lykogiannis tackle on Kornvig was high enough to warrant a straight red card. They both seemed to stumble going into the challenge and were off balanced, so it seemed rather harsh, but Bologna were reduced to 10 men.

The tension in the stadium was palpable, as Emil Holm made a decisive block on Finne, but Juan Miranda had penalty appeals rejected as he seemed to just cross paths with an opponent. Brann went on the counter from the same move, seeing the Kornig strike deflected wide.

Federico Bernardeschi’s curler was off target, while after the break Torbjorn Heggem’s header was charged down, then he was off balance on the rebound.

Down to 10 men, the Rossoblu pushed hard in the second half, with Santiago Castro testing the goalkeeper from a Bernardeschi corner, and Cambiaghi’s effort charged down by De Roeve.

There was chaos on a corner, as Lewis Ferguson’s attempt struck Castro, who turned it wide, then moments later Cambiaghi really should’ve scored when drilling wide from the edge of the box on Castro’s lay-off.

Dragsnes also wasted a chance for Brann by firing over, but it was impossible to tell the hosts were down to 10 men.

They poured forward in the final minutes, having an extraordinary double chance when Riccardo Orsolini pulled back from the by-line for Ferguson to force a big save, then Jens Odgaard’s rebound was deflected over.

On the resulting corner, a Jhon Lucumi header was fingertipped round the base of the upright, then Kornvig’s diving header risked an own goal.

Sent off: Lykogiannis 23 (Bo)