Any lingering memories of the five-goal thriller in this fixture last season were extinguished during a sedentary opening 20 minutes, with only a solitary shot at goal in that time. When the match finally arose from its slumber, it was in fittingly low-key fashion, as a Martin Vitik miskick allowed Torino striker Che Adams a clear sight at goal from 12 yards out.
However, the Scotsman’s curling finish rattled against the top of the crossbar and bounced harmlessly away to safety, and with it went Torino’s best chance of the first half.
For all their possession, the home side’s most promising moment came from an opportunistic long-range strike. Charalampos Lykogiannis was given time to line up a shot from 30 yards, and his curling effort was heading towards the top corner before it was tipped over by Il Toro goalkeeper Alberto Paleari.
If the Rossoblu were in control yet underwhelming in the first half, they exerted authority in the second half more in line with pre-match expectations.
Shortly after the break, Torino once again had Paleari to thank for remaining on level terms, as he turned Federico Bernardeschi’s high, looping effort away at full stretch. Moments later, Lykogiannīs hammered in another long-range effort, this time beating Paleari but directing his shot just wide into the side-netting.
The introduction of top scorer and talisman Riccardo Orsolini roused the home fans, but ultimately he could not provide the spark to unpick a Torino defence that stood defiant against a Bologna attack that ran out of ideas with 10 minutes to play.
It would prove to be a night of frustration for the home side, who now sit in sixth, while the hard-earned point for Torino keeps them in 11th place.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Alberto Paleari (Torino)