:format(webp)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/grupoclarin/JGX5YW334RGCVLJAJI2ULR6LLE.jpg "Bologna has 6 wins for the first time in decades and sees the Champions League")
ROME (AP) — Bologna’s unexpected chances of entering the next Champions League continue to grow game after game.
Thiago Motta’s team turned the score around to take a 2-1 victory on Sunday in their visit to Atalanta to consolidate their position in fourth place. The chances of a direct rival for the ticket to Europe’s top club tournament also diminished.
It was Bologna’s sixth straight victory in Serie A — a feat it had only achieved twice in the past, with streaks of 10 wins in 1963-64 and six in 1967.
Bologna were crowned Italian champions for the seventh and final time in 1964 and more than two decades have passed since their previous European appearance when they reached the final of the Intertoto Cup in 2002.
“I’m not thinking about Europe yet,” Motta said. “Our only task is to train and play well.”
Joshua Zirkzee and Lewis Ferguson scored Bologna’s goals during a three-minute span on the hour mark after Ademola Lookman put Atalanta ahead in the 28th minute.
Bologna was four points ahead of fifth-place Roma and five points behind third-place AC Milan.
Next weekend, Bologna will host leaders Inter Milan.
The day was completed with the defending champion Napoli at home against the second Juventus.
Earlier in the day, Domenico Berardi was injured in Sassuolo’s 1-0 defeat at Hellas Verona, with fears that the striker tore his Achilles tendon, an injury that could cost him from going with Italy to the European National Team Championship.
The victory allowed Verona to move one step above the relegation zone. Sassuolo was second to last.
In another result, Cagliari beat Empoli 1-0 for their first away win of the season and Frosinone and Lecce drew 1-1.