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

3 weeks ago 19

Sports Mole previews Saturday's Serie A clash between Bologna and Empoli, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Still seeking their first win of the new Serie A season, Bologna will aim to get off the mark on Saturday, when they welcome Empoli to Stadio Dall'Ara.

While the Rossoblu were well beaten last weekend, their Tuscan counterparts earned a stunning success in Rome.

Match preview

Riccardo Orsolini (Bologna) during the Italian Serie A match between Bologna 1-1 Udinese at Renato DallAra Stadium on August 18, 2024 © Imago

Last season's surprise package, punching well above their weight under former boss Thiago Motta, Bologna have proved unable to continue in the same vein since returning from Serie A's summer break.

After a disappointing opening-day draw at home to Udinese, the Rossoblu visited Napoli last week, in hope of capitalising on their hosts' ongoing woes.

However, they came away from Campania empty-handed following a 3-0 defeat, so new coach Vincenzo Italiano is under pressure to produce victory in his team's final fixture before international football intervenes.

Stretching back to the end of last season, Bologna have won just one of their last seven matches, and ahead of the Emilian club's upcoming Champions League debut, Italiano will be aiming to turn that trend around.

Starting with a win on home turf would certainly help, as including that stalemate with Udinese, the Rossoblu have drawn their last four league games at Stadio Dall'Ara - equalling their second-longest such streak in Serie A.

On Saturday, they will attempt to post three consecutive top-flight wins over Empoli for the very first time, having dominated the Tuscan side last term.

Empoli FC team line-up during Empoli FC vs UC Sampdoria, Friendly football match in Empoli, Italy, August 03 2024 © Imago

Empoli not only failed to take a point from their two encounters with Bologna in 2023-24, but they were also unable to get on the scoresheet either home or away.

It was a season of struggle for the Azzurri, who were only saved from relegation by a late twist on the final day, but new coach Roberto D'Aversa has enjoyed a much brighter start to the current campaign.

Although they rode their luck at times, as hosts Roma struck the woodwork on three occasions and missed several chances, Empoli produced a shock 2-1 victory last weekend, when they stunned Stadio Olimpico with an unexpected away win.

Goals from Emmanuel Gyasi and loan striker Lorenzo Colombo were enough to secure all three points, which were added to one gained from an opening-day draw with Monza.

Still serving a touchline ban for an ugly incident that abruptly ended his spell at Lecce, D'Aversa had previously overseen a 4-1 Coppa Italia defeat of Catanzaro, and he now hopes to help Empoli stay unbeaten through their first three Serie A matches for just the second time ever.

Bologna Serie A form:

Empoli Serie A form:

Empoli form (all competitions):

Team News

Fiorentina coach Vincenzo Italiano on May 29, 2024 © Reuters

Having lost important players during the off-season, Bologna recently saw summer signing Nicolo Cambiaghi struck down by a serious knee injury, and Swiss winger Dan Ndoye (thigh) may also be sidelined on Saturday.

Furthermore, Oussama El Azzouzi (knee) joins long-term absentee Lewis Ferguson (ACL) in the treatment room; Vincenzo Italiano has been able to bring Aston Villa loanee Samuel Iling-Junior into his squad, though.

With Ndoye unavailable, captain Riccardo Orsolini will shoulder much of the attacking burden. The Italy international has scored five times against Empoli to date - including his only Serie A hat-trick, in October of last year.

Meanwhile, Empoli are still missing Samuele Perisan, Szymon Zurkowski and Tyronne Ebuehi, but Alberto Grassi returns from suspension and can contend for a place in midfield.

Head coach Roberto D'Aversa - who continues to serve a touchline ban - must make at least one change to the team that started in Rome, as centre-back Sebastian Walukiewicz has moved to Torino, with Saba Sazonov and Pietro Pellegri coming in the opposite direction on loan deals.

Bologna possible starting lineup:
Skorupski; Posch, Beukema, Lucumi, Miranda; Freuler, Aebischer; Orsolini, Fabbian, Odgaard; Castro

Empoli possible starting lineup:
Vasquez; Marianucci, Ismajli, Viti; Gyasi, Henderson, Haas, Pezzella; Fazzini, Esposito; Colombo

SM words green background

We say: Bologna 1-1 Empoli

Empoli have not won successive Serie A matches since May 2023 - in that case, one win was against Bologna - and that trend may continue this weekend.

Nonetheless, the Azzurri will be emboldened by their result against Roma, and leaving the Dall'Ara with a point is well within their compass.

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

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