Bologna 1-1 Fiorentina

Bologna and Fiorentina shared the spoils in the first Serie A match of the 2009/10 season this evening at the Stadio Dal Ara.

The home side had the better of the first half and took the lead through former Viola striker Pablo Osvaldo in the 24th minute.

Osvaldo missed the chance to make it two before the visitors, boosted by the entry onto the field of Adrian Mutu, equalised through the Romanian striker in the 65th minute to earn a point for Cesare Prandelli's side.

Bologna were without their top goalscorer from last season Marco Di Vaio, who failed to recover from injury and was not even able to sit on the bench.

Prandelli sprang a surprise by leaving Mutu out of his initial starting XI with Stevan Jovetic preferred with Alberto Gilardino in attack.

The hosts started brightly, although the first chance of the match fell to Gilardino in the 13th minute, but he was denied twice by Bologna's debutant goalkeeper Emiliano Viviano.

Osvaldo then punished Gianluca Comotto for some slack defending by heading Bologna in front in the 24th minute from a corner.

He rose to meet the ball while his marker Comotto just stood and watched as Osvaldo's header from point-blank range rippled the back of the net.

Marco Donadel tested Viviano 10 minutes later, but it was the home side continuing to set the pace and Comotto continuing to invite them forward.

He was at fault again as the former Fiorentina striker Osvaldo was given another free header inside the six-yard box in the 37th minute, but this time Sebastien Frey produced a fine reflex save to deny Osvaldo and Bologna a second.

Moments earlier, Gilardino had seen his goal from 15 yards ruled out for a clear offside.

Bologna failed to add a second goal to accompany their dominance and Fiorentina would have been happy to go in at the break just the one goal behind.

The time had come for Mutu to make his entrance and his arrival at the start of the second half gave a different complexion to the game.

Even Comotto improved and he provided the assist to make up for his earlier errors and give Mutu the opportunity to equalise.

And the Romanian did not need much of an invitation as he took aim and shot into the top right-hand corner from 18 yards out.

The heat began to take its toll on the players with over 32 degrees on the thermometer, despite the game being put back to the evening to avoid the oppressive afternoon sunshine.

It was therefore inevitable that both sides began to tire and they both seemed to settle for a draw in the final 20 minutes with no further chances at either end.

And the result will have satisfied both sides with relegation candidates Bologna avoiding an opening day defeat for the second year running after defeating AC Milan last season and Fiorentina happy to come away from a difficult venue with a point.