Sports Mole previews Saturday's Serie A conflict between Bologna and Atalanta BC, together with predictions, crew information and attainable lineups.
Seeking their fourth straight win over Atalanta BC in Serie A, Bologna will welcome La Dea to Stadio Dall'Ara on Saturday night.
Across all competitions, the hosts have drawn every of their final six house matches, however they are going to be aiming for back-to-back wins this weekend.
Match preview
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Finally ending their drought after six league matches with out success, Bologna noticed off the problem of one other winless facet, Monza, final weekend, recent from making an extended-awaited Champions League debut.
Santiago Castro‘s late winner secured a 2-1 victory for the Rossoblu, which relieved some stress on new boss Vincenzo Italiano – twice a Conference League finalist with Fiorentina – who was employed to lead them into Europe.
Bologna now return to the Dall'Ara, the place – as well as to a goalless stalemate with Shakhtar Donetsk – they've drawn every of their final 5 league matches.
That leaves them only one shy of matching the longest such streak all through their complete Serie A historical past – posted again in 1981 – however Italiano will understandably be eager to finish the one-level sequence with a win.
Ahead of two more difficult contests – versus Liverpool at Anfield within the Champions League, then an Emilian derby in opposition to Parma – his crew should face a fellow Champions League facet on Saturday.
The omens for an overdue house win are fairly promising: Bologna and Atalanta have drawn simply considered one of their final 12 league conferences at Stadio Dall'Ara, and the Rossoblu have lately received their final three video games in opposition to La Dea.
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Atalanta have by no means earlier than misplaced 4 occasions in a row to Bologna within the Italian prime flight, and they're intent on avoiding that destiny this weekend.
However, inconsistency has plagued a generally promising begin to the 2024-25 season, and Tuesday's shock loss to strugglers Como left La Dea on a modest tally of six factors within the Serie A standings – degree with their subsequent hosts.
Even if Atalanta win in Bologna, they may have failed to attain double figures after six rounds for the primary time since 2018, having continued a shaky defensive report by delivery three extra objectives of their house defeat earlier this week.
Gian Piero Gasperini‘s males might have held Arsenal to a 0-0 draw within the Champions League, however they've conceded essentially the most objectives (11) in Serie A up to now, additionally dealing with 27 photographs on course – solely fewer than newly promoted pair Venezia and Parma.
Having misplaced their final two away matches – in opposition to shock leaders Torino and reigning champions Inter Milan – the Nerazzurri will now hope to keep away from a run of three straight defeats on the highway. That is one thing they haven't suffered in Serie A since 2017.
Bologna Serie A kind:
Bologna kind (all competitions):
Atalanta BC Serie A kind:
Atalanta BC kind (all competitions):
Team News
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While Lewis Ferguson is closing in on his lengthy-awaited return from an ACL harm and ought to return to motion subsequent month, Bologna will nonetheless be with out Oussama El Azzouzi and Nicolo Cambiaghi for a while but.
Tommaso Pobega can be combating a knee drawback, so Vincenzo Italiano might maintain religion along with his midfield choice after securing a primary win since taking the reins.
Up entrance, Santiago Castro has scored late objectives in each of his final two league video games and ought to begin once more, with help from captain Riccardo Orsolini. The latter made his first eight Serie A appearances for Atalanta seven years in the past, and he has since been instantly concerned in 5 objectives in opposition to them.
Meanwhile, La Dea's Ademola Lookman has discovered the web in every of his final 4 league matches following a stoppage-time penalty in opposition to Como earlier this week.
Lookman must be recalled to the beginning XI, as Gian Piero Gasperini is anticipated to reshuffle his pack after being dissatisfied with the character of Atalanta's most up-to-date defeat.
Once once more, the Bergamo membership will probably be with out lengthy-time period absentees Gianluca Scamacca and Giorgio Scalvini (each ACL), plus defensive duo Isak Hien (thigh) and Rafael Toloi (muscular).
Bologna attainable beginning lineup:
Skorupski; Posch, Beukema, Lucumi, Miranda; Freuler, Aebischer; Orsolini, Urbanski, Ndoye; Castro
Atalanta BC attainable beginning lineup:
Carnesecchi; Djimsiti, Kossounou, Kolasinac; Bellanova, Ederson, De Roon, Ruggeri; Samardzic, Lookman; Retegui
We say: Bologna 1-1 Atalanta BC
Bologna may very well be certain for a exceptional seventh successive house draw, as they're set to rating in opposition to hit-and-miss Atalanta however are additionally probably to be caught out on the different finish.
The groups completed facet-by-facet in Serie A final season, and for all La Dea's particular person high quality, the Europa League winners have a tendency to wrestle on the highway.
For knowledge evaluation of the almost certainly outcomes, scorelines and extra for this match please click on right here.
