Brighton & Hove Albion edged out Italian side Bologna 1-0 in an international club friendly on 15 August 2026, continuing their pre-season preparations with a disciplined and controlled performance. The Seagulls made the most of their home advantage at the Amex Stadium, producing a solid defensive display and taking one of their few clear-cut chances to claim a narrow victory against a well-organised Bologna outfit.

Match overview

The match was a typical mid-August friendly in many respects: both managers rotated heavily, used the game to build fitness, and gave valuable minutes to squad players. Brighton, however, showed a sharper edge in the final third. The only goal of the game arrived during the first half, with the home side capitalising on a quick transition to unlock the Bologna defence. The Italian visitors grew into the contest after the break and enjoyed long spells of possession, but they lacked the cutting edge needed to find an equaliser.

Key moments

• Brighton's opener: A slick passing move carved Bologna open, with a low finish from inside the area beating the visiting goalkeeper at his near post.
• Bologna response: The Serie A side pushed forward in the second half and forced a string of saves from the Brighton keeper, but could not find the target from a series of half-chances.
• Late pressure: Bologna's best opportunity came in the final ten minutes, but a well-timed block denied what looked like a certain equaliser from close range.

Tactical story

Brighton set up in their familiar possession-based structure but were happy to sit deeper once they had the lead, looking to hit Bologna on the break. Bologna, under their new season shape, were patient in build-up and tried to create overloads down the left flank. The match served as a useful test for both sides, with the pace and intensity gradually increasing as the game wore on.

What it means

For Brighton, the win adds to a promising pre-season record and offers encouragement ahead of the new Premier League campaign. Bologna, meanwhile, will take positives from their performance in possession but will need to improve their efficiency in the final third before competitive action resumes. In the context of a friendly, the result matters less than the fitness and tactical sharpness gained by both squads.