Serie A Preview: Bologna vs Napoli – Team News, Line-ups & Prediction | OneFootball

Stadio Renato Dall’Ara forms the backdrop for a high-stakes Serie A encounter between top-four hopefuls Bologna and title-bidding Napoli. Both teams will be out to put three precious points on the board and get closer to achieving their seasonal goals.

It shapes up to be a historic season finale for Bologna. Firmly in contention for a first major trophy since 1974 following a thumping 3-0 win at Empoli in the first leg of their Coppa Italia semi-final tie, Vincenzo Italiano’s charges chase more history in Serie A.

Last season’s fifth-place finish warranted a long-awaited Champions League qualification, putting this Bologna team on the brink of club history. Indeed, the Rossoblu could lock down a place at Europe’s top table in back-to-back campaigns for the first time.

Juventus’ away draw at Roma last night puts Bologna in a perfect position to open a three-point gap in fourth. However, that could be a formidable proposition as they meet second-placed Napoli. Like their hosts, Antonio Conte’s men received a significant boost during the weekend.

Inter dropped two points at Parma on Saturday, allowing the Partenopei to move within a one-point distance with a win in Emilia-Romagna. Napoli must seize this opportunity to blow the Scudetto race wide open again. Anything other than a win would likely spell the end for their title hopes.

Match Preview

Bologna

With just eight rounds left in the Serie A season and all teams from second to seventh facing off against each other this matchday, a major shake-up in the standings seemed inevitable. Bologna will take the field in high spirits, boasting the joint-longest ongoing winning streak on home turf in Serie A (W5).

It’s also worth mentioning that two wins in that sequence came against fellow European hopefuls, including a 5-0 demolition of Lazio last time out. Dall’Ara has been a fortress, with the Rossoblu only suffering one home league loss this season (W9, D5), courtesy of a shocking 3-2 defeat to relegation-battling Hellas Verona in December.

Bologna’s rip-roaring home form should boost Italiano’s quest to improve his dismal 33% win rate against Napoli as a manager (W4, D2, L6) and avenge a humiliating 3-0 loss in August’s reverse fixture at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona. However, the recent history of this match-up heavily favors the Partenopei.

Napoli

Except for a 2-0 home loss in 2023/24, Napoli have avoided defeat in nine of their last ten league meetings with Bologna (W6, D3). Furthermore, their most recent slump at Dall’Ara dates back to May 2019, highlighting their dominance in this fixture, particularly on the road. That strong H2H record could provide a timely boost as Napoli look to stay in the title race.

It’s safe to say that Bologna are among Conte’s favorite opposition, considering the trophy-laden manager boasts a superb touchline record against the Rossoblu (W8, D4, L1), beating them seven times in the last eight duels (L1). That’s encouraging as his charges hope to bounce back from a rotten spell on the road.

A scoreless draw at Venezia on their last Serie A travel extended Napoli’s winless away run to four games (D3, L1). Moreover, the visitors’ inability to turn draws into victories away to teams starting this round in the top seven (W1, D4) could be Napoli’s undoing this term, with four of those matches seeing both teams on the scoresheet.

In search of good omens, Napoli haven’t lost any of their last eight Monday-held Serie A matches (W5, D3).

Team News

Despite losing ex-Milan captain Davide Calabria to an ankle sprain against Empoli, Bologna can call upon Emil Holm to fill the vacancy at right-back. Otherwise, Italiano doesn’t have any other injury concerns, with Riccardo Orsolini and Santiago Castro back to full fitness.

On the other hand, Napoli will take this trip without star midfielder Stanislav Lobotka and left wingback Leonardo Spinazzola. Their absences may see Billy Gilmour and Mathias Olivera via for selection. Despite an underwhelming showing in a 2-1 win against Milan last weekend, David Neres should start on the wing.

Bologna vs Napoli Potential Starting Line-ups

Bologna (4-2-3-1): Skorupski; Holm, Beukema, Lucumi, Miranda; Freuler, Ferguson; Orsolini, Odgaard, Ndoye; Castro.

Napoli (4-3-3): Meret; Di Lorenzo, Rrahmani, Buongiorno, Olivera; Anguissa, Lobotka, McTominay; Politano, Lukaku, Neres.

Bologna vs Napoli Prediction

This fixture has a share of the spoils written all over it, even though a point wouldn’t bring much to either side.