Santiago Castro has had an immediate impact off the bench as he scored the goal to send Bologna into the Italian Cup semi-finals for the first time in 26 years.
Bologna won 1-0 at last year’s runners-up Atalanta on Tuesday night and will play either holders Juventus or Empoli in the final four over two legs in April. Juventus host Empoli in their quarter-final on February 26.
The last time Bologna were in the semis was in 1999, when they lost 4-2 to Fiorentina.
There were chances for both sides in a high-tempo match in Bergamo but it was Bologna who broke the deadlock, 10 minutes from time. Castro escaped his marker at the far post to head in Charalampos Lykogiannis’ perfectly-weighted free kick.
The 20-year-old Argentinian had come off the bench less than two minutes earlier.
The cup exit continued a poor start to the new year for Gian Piero Gasperini’s Atalanta, who have only beaten Sturm Graz and Como in their 10 matches since the beginning of 2025.
Atalanta sit third in the Serie A standings, seven points behind leaders Napoli, having drawn 1-1 with mid-table Torino at the weekend.
AC Milan host Roma in Wednesday’s quarter-final, with Lazio playing at Inter Milan in the other on February 25.
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