SM
Mallorca vs. Barcelona: 16 hrs 31 mins
Upcoming predictions and previews
Collect News Data
BL
Serie A | Gameweek 34
Apr 28, 2024 at 2pm UK
Stadio Renato Dall'Ara
UL

Bologna
1 - 1
Udinese

Saelemaekers (78')
Beukema (55'), Zirkzee (75')
Beukema (64')
FT(HT: 0-1)
Payero (45+1')
Ehizibue (42'), Okoye (50'), Lucca (53'), Perez (68'), Payero (82'), Davis (89'), Ferreira (90+2')

Preview: Bologna vs. Udinese - prediction, team news, lineups

:Headline: Preview: Bologna vs. Udinese - prediction, team news, lineups:
Sports Mole previews Sunday's Serie A clash between Bologna and Udinese, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Sports Mole

Closing in on a place in next season's Champions League, Serie A's surprise package Bologna host relegation-threatened Udinese on Sunday.

Curiously, both teams played Roma last time out; while Bologna won their top-five tussle last weekend, Udinese suffered a last-gasp defeat to the capital club on Thursday evening.


Match preview

Having come out on top in a contest between two teams vying for Champions League qualification, Bologna's 3-1 defeat of Roma left the Emilian club eight points clear of sixth-placed Atalanta BC, and a place in Italy's final top five is very much theirs to lose.

A surprise selection by the Rossoblu's tactical maestro Thiago Motta, Moroccan midfielder Oussama El Azzouzi spectacularly opened the scoring at Stadio Olimpico, where Alexis Saelemaekers and top scorer Joshua Zirkzee were also on target for the visitors.

They now return to their stronghold at Stadio Dall'Ara, which has witnessed 12 wins from 17 Serie A fixtures this season; either home or away, Bologna's sole loss in their last 13 league matches was to new champions Inter Milan last month.

A tally of 62 points so far represents the club's best rate at this stage of a top-flight campaign since 1967, so it is no wonder that Motta's work in Emilia-Romagna is drawing admiring glances from across the continent.

His side rarely know when they are beaten, too, as only Napoli and Cagliari have gained more points from losing positions - the potency of Zirkzee and Italy winger Riccardo Orsolini always offers a threat, while several other players have chipped in with crucial goals.

However, one occasion the Rossoblu failed to fight back from behind was in December's reverse fixture against Udinese, which they surprisingly lost 3-0.

Winless in their last five visits to the Dall'Ara, there will be some 34 points separating Udinese from their hosts when Sunday's game kicks off, following a dismal 2023-24 campaign.

While Bologna are comeback kings, only Sassuolo have dropped more points from winning positions than the Friulani (22) throughout Serie A, and they somehow let a draw slip from their grasp deep into stoppage-time of an unusual encounter in midweek.

With a new coach in charge - since previous boss Gabriele Cioffi had been replaced by Fabio Cannavaro just a few days earlier - Udinese played out the final 18 minutes of their game against Roma, nearly two weeks after Evan Ndicka's collapse caused it to be suspended.

They re-started level at 1-1, but Bryan Cristante headed home from a corner in the dying embers to break Bianconeri hearts and spoil Cannavaro's grand arrival.

Though Udinese remain one of seven teams trying to avoid two relegation places alongside Serie B-bound Salernitana, the Italy legend at least inherits a team with 16 points from as many away games so far - more than any other side still scrapping for survival.

Bologna Serie A form:

Udinese Serie A form:


Team News

Despite enjoying a successful trip to Rome last week, Bologna boss Thiago Motta may still make changes to his starting XI on Sunday, as Riccardo Orsolini is expected to regain his place in the lineup and Victor Kristiansen could also return at left-back.

However, Oussama El Azzouzi's bold performance at the Olimpico may help him hold off competition from Giovanni Fabbian to support star striker Joshua Zirkzee in attack.

In addition to captain Lewis Ferguson (ACL), Adama Soumaoro (knee) and Jens Odgaard (thigh) are still sidelined by injury.

While Nehuen Perez has recovered from a blow to the head suffered on Thursday, Udinese will again be without Florian Thauvin, Enzo Ebosse, Sandi Lovric and long-term absentee Gerard Deulofeu this weekend.

It remains to be seen whether Fabio Cannavaro will make many alterations to the Bianconeri's ingrained three-at-the-back formation, but his options are seriously limited in attack.

Captain Roberto Pereyra is therefore set to support top scorer Lorenzo Lucca up front, having been involved in two goals in his last three appearances - he also found the net in December's reverse fixture.


Bologna possible starting lineup:
Skorupski; Posch, Beukema, Calafiori, Kristiansen; Freuler, Aebischer; Orsolini, El Azzouzi, Saelemaekers; Zirkzee

Udinese possible starting lineup:
Okoye; Kristensen, Bijol, Perez; Ehizibue, Payero, Walace, Samardzic, Kamara; Pereyra; Lucca


We say: Bologna 1-0 Udinese

Bologna boast Serie A's second-best home record, so seeing off struggling Udinese seems straightforward on paper. With a new boss in charge and facing the distinct danger of relegation, the Fruilani should put up a brave fight before succumbing again.


For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.


body check tags ::

Previews by email

Click here to get Sports Mole's daily email of previews and predictions for every major game!


amp_article__542283 : Collect and Make Data not in DataBase  : 
last updated article - 2024-04-28 08:51:17:
html db last update - 2024-04-28 08:51:17 :

ex - 7200 : read : write cache and make html
Read more!
Share this article now:


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!
Recommended Next on SM
Udinese hire Ballon d'Or, World Cup winner as new manager
Man United 'hold concrete talks' over move for Sporting star
Could 'homesick' Saudi talent replace De Bruyne at Man City?
Preview: Bologna vs. Monza - prediction, team news, lineups
Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Napoli1410222191232
2Atalanta BCAtalanta14101336162031
3Inter Milan1384131141728
4Fiorentina1384127101728
5Lazio1491429171228
6Juventus146802281426
7AC Milan136432314922
8Bologna135621816221
9Udinese145271621-517
10Empoli143741014-416
11Parma143652022-215
12Torino144371620-415
13CagliariCagliari143561524-914
14Genoa143561324-1114
15Roma143471420-613
16Lecce14347722-1513
17Hellas VeronaHellas Verona1440101733-1612
18Como142571426-1211
19Monza141761217-510
20VeneziaVenezia1422101125-148
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

history www

Preview: Southampton vs. Chelsea - prediction, team news, lineups

1

PS

Madueke set to return? Chelsea predicted lineup vs. Southampton

2

MS

Man United 'hold concrete talks' over move for Sporting star

NEW

3

MU

Hamstring problems spreading: Chelsea injury, suspension list vs. Southampton

NEW

4

HP

Arsenal to face Man United in FA Cup, lower-league sides draw PL opposition

5

AT

Preview: Arsenal vs. Man Utd - prediction, team news, lineups

6

PA

Amorim wants contract talks with Man United attacker 'who fits his system'

7

AW

Injury, suspensions decimate Martin's squad: Southampton predicted XI vs. Chelsea

8

IS

Preview: Man City vs. Nott'm Forest - prediction, team news, lineups

9

PM

Preview: Athletic Bilbao vs. Real Madrid - prediction, team news, lineups

10

PA


. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .