Hellas Verona starting XI (3-5-2): Montipò, Unai Núñez (subbed for Slotsager), Nelsson, Valentini, Niasse (subbed for Cham), Suat Serdar (subbed for Gagliardini), Al-Musrati (subbed for Giovane), Bernede, Bradaric, Orban, Sarr (subbed for Mosquera)

Bench: Perilli, Toniolo, Oyegoke, Harroui, Ebosse, Isaac

Goals: Orban 13’, Freuler 71’ (OG)

Bologna starting XI (4-2-3-1): Ravaglia, Holm (subbed for Zortea), Heggem, Vitik, Juan Miranda, Freuler, Pobega (subbed for Moro), Orsolini (subbed for Fabbian), Odgaard (subbed for Ferguson), Dominguez, Castro (subbed for Immobile)

Bench: Skorupski, Pessina, Rowe, Casale, Lykogiannis, Dallinga, De Silvestri, Sulemana

Goals: Orsolini 21’, Odgaard 29’, Castro 44’

Verona stunned the home crowd early on when Gift Orban capitalised on a quick transition and fired into the net in the 13th minute to give the hosts a dream start in a match where they desperately needed points in their relegation fight.

But Bologna, clinical and composed, responded before the break. Riccardo Orsolini equalised with a superb top-corner shot, bringing his side level and wresting momentum back.

In the 29th minute, Jens Odgaard side footed the ball into the bottom-left corner from just outside the box, putting the visitors ahead and giving Bologna a lead they wouldn’t relinquish.

Just before the interval, Santiago Castro extended the advantage with a stunning volley that cannoned in off the crossbar.

Verona came out with renewed urgency after the break and pulled one back when a lapse in the Bologna defence resulted in an own goal by Remo Freuler, narrowing the deficit and setting up a tense finale.

The hosts pressed for a late equaliser, but Bologna held firm, defending resolutely and managing the game effectively to see out the victory.

The result lifts Bologna up the table and ends a seven-match winless run in the league, giving them a much-needed confidence boost as they push towards mid-table security.

For bottom-placed Verona, the defeat is another blow in their battle against the drop, which is anything but inevitable seeing as safety is only four points away.