After both orchestrating superb comebacks last weekend, Bologna and Lecce meet at Stadio Dall'Ara on Sunday afternoon.

While the Rossoblu fought back from behind to take sixth spot in Serie A, the Salentini gave their survival hopes a shot in the arm by stunning Fiorentina.

Match preview

Bologna had stalled somewhat after the turn of the year, slipping down to eighth place and going out of the Coppa Italia on penalties, but Thiago Motta's men have proved their mettle over the past fortnight and remain contenders for European qualification.

Having held AC Milan to a 2-2 draw at San Siro, where Riccardo Orsolini rescued a point in stoppage time, the Rossoblu again turned things around last time out, when they hosted regional rivals Sassuolo.

The visitors led 2-1 with 20 minutes remaining, but a late flurry of goals - including one for captain Lewis Ferguson - not only preserved Bologna's unbeaten run on home soil but also saw them run out 4-2 winners.

That success took the Emilian club into double figures for consecutive league games undefeated at the Dall'Ara - the last time they posted a longer such streak in Serie A was way back in the 1989-90 campaign.

Victory this weekend would see Bologna win nine of their first 12 home games for the only time since 1973, when they ultimately finished seventh; ambitious Motta - recently linked with several big jobs in Italy and beyond - may be aiming for an even better outcome this year.

A 1-1 draw in December's reverse fixture saw Lecce halt a four-game losing streak against Sunday's hosts, but their record in Bologna still makes for grim reading: the Salentini have won just one of their last 14 league matches at Stadio Dall'Ara, losing on nine occasions.

However, they will arrive in Emilia-Romagna buoyed by an incredible late revival that saw them steal all three points from Fiorentina last time out.

Trailing 2-1 with time ticking down, Lecce first drew level through Roberto Piccoli - who has remarkably scored 50% of his 12 Serie A goals during stoppage time - before Danish full-back Patrick Dorgu popped up with a dramatic winner that sent Stadio Via del Mare into raptures.

After seeing his side let several leads slip in previous weeks, as they slid dangerously close to the drop zone, coach Roberto D'Aversa was delighted to witness such a spirited comeback, which took them six points clear of the bottom three.

Lecce last won back-to-back league matches in January 2023, though, and are yet to taste victory on the road this term.

Team News

While Thiago Motta may be loath to tinker with a winning team, Bologna must make at least one change to the XI that lined up against Sassuolo last week: as Michel Aebischer is suspended, Nikola Moro could partner Remo Freuler in midfield.

Further forward, Scottish star Lewis Ferguson starts behind top scorer Joshua Zirkzee, having been directly involved in seven league goals this season - already matching his total for last term. Ferguson has previously scored twice against Lecce, including his first-ever Serie A strike in October 2022.

Though long-term absentee Adama Soumaoro is still sidelined by injury, Dan Ndoye recently returned to training after overcoming a thigh problem and could now make the bench.

Meanwhile, Lecce will be without first-choice right-back Valentin Gendrey, who serves a one-match ban, so Lorenzo Venuti should deputise in the visitors' back four. In better news for Roberto D'Aversa, midfielder Ylber Ramadani is back in the Giallorossi's squad following suspension.

With his late finish last week, Roberto Piccoli moved onto four Serie A goals for the season - only one shy of his career-best total from 2020-21 - and the Atalanta BC loanee will fight it out with Nikola Krstovic to feature up front.

Bologna possible starting lineup:
Skorupski; Posch, Beukema, Calafiori, Kristiansen; Freuler, Ferguson; Orsolini, Fabbian, Saelemaekers; Zirkzee

Lecce possible starting lineup:
Falcone; Venuti, Pongracic, Baschirotto, Gallo; Kaba, Ramadani, Oudin; Almqvist, Krstovic, Banda

We say: Bologna 2-0 Lecce

Bologna are brilliant at home, while Lecce have been woeful away. Surely the hosts should secure back-to-back wins at the Salentini's expense, helping them keep pace with Italy's top four.


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