Bologna began life without coveted forward Alessandro Diamanti with a much-needed 2-1 win at Serie A highflyers Torino on Sunday with Jonathan Cristaldo scoring a brace for them.
Diamanti's move to Chinese side Guangzhou Evergrande was confirmed in midweek, leaving the Serie A strugglers in the hunt for a free agent as a potential replacement as they look to stave off relegation.
Bologna's last victory came at home to Genoa three days before Christmas and Davide Ballardini's side looked to be heading for their third defeat in six games when Ciro Immobile broke the deadlock for Torino after five minutes.
However Torino virtually gifted the visitors an equaliser minutes later when a fluffed clearance by 'keeper Daniele Padelli allowed Argentinian striker Cristaldo to tap the ball into an empty net.
Cristaldo, on loan from Ukrainian side Metalist Kharkiv, added his second when he pounced to tap in a rebound just before the half hour after Padelli failed to hold Rene Krhin's drive from the edge of the area.
Torino spurned several chances to level but came up short and as a result went down to their first defeat since the turn of the year.
The Granata, who have been battling to get in among the Europa League qualifying places, remain two spots adrift of fifth place but risk dropping down the table depending on results elsewhere Sunday.
Bologna's fourth win of the campaign kept them fifth from bottom but they are now four points clear of the drop zone.
Source: AFP
