Struggling Bologna have beaten 10-man Fiorentina 2-0 to boost their chances of Serie A survival.

Bologna were clinical in the first half on Tuesday, with Alessandro Diamanti and Gaston Ramirez scoring to establish a solid halftime lead.

Fiorentina had several opportunities but a combination of wasteful finishing and strong goalkeeping by Bologna’s Jean-Francois Gillet kept them from scoring.

Any hopes they had of getting back in the game all but evaporated five minutes into the second half as Ruben Olivera was sent off for a serious foul on Diamanti.

Bologna are now level with 12th-placed Fiorentina and seven points above the relegation zone.