Bologna and Udinese meet in a tightly packed mid-table encounter with both sides desperate to steady their seasons and climb away from danger. The hosts have the added motivation of chasing a rare league double, while Udinese arrive looking to halt a worrying slide.
Match News and Current Form
Bologna ended a difficult run of five consecutive domestic defeats with a 2-1 win over Torino last weekend. Despite that boost, the gap to the top six remains nine points before this round, which leaves their European hopes through the league looking increasingly unlikely. However, momentum returned in midweek when Bologna secured a 1-0 victory away to Brann in the first leg of their UEFA Europa League play-off. That result should lift confidence as the side attempt to win back-to-back league games for the first time since November.
There is still a clear concern about consistency. The team have lost their last four league matches played directly after European fixtures, a trend coach Vincenzo Italiano will be eager to reverse. Another negative pattern looms as well. Bologna risk suffering five straight home defeats in Serie A for the first time since 1991, which underlines the importance of this match.
Just one point behind in a congested mid-table picture are Udinese. They arrive following consecutive league losses but have enjoyed more than a week to prepare, an advantage given their lack of continental commitments. Another defeat would represent their worst losing run of the campaign. With only one of their last 17 league away matches ending in a draw, results at both ends of the spectrum have been more common. Playing on a Monday could also offer encouragement, as they have lost only two of their last 14 league games on this day.
Head-to-Head History
After a 3-0 win in the reverse fixture, Bologna are chasing just their third league double over Udinese in the three-points-per-win era. Not since the 1951/52 season have they managed to win both league meetings without conceding, adding further historical significance to the encounter.
Hot Stats and Streaks
Only AC Milan collected more points than Bologna after conceding first before this round, highlighting their resilience when chasing games. They also remain one of only two Serie A teams yet to score inside the opening 15 minutes this season.
Udinese’s defensive struggles on the road continue, with just two clean sheets in their last 17 league away matches. Their attacking rhythm has also been inconsistent, scoring in both halves in only three of their 25 league games.
Key Players to Watch and Missing Players
For Bologna, Federico Bernardeschi is searching for his first Serie A goal since finding the net in November’s reverse meeting. He has scored more often against Udinese than almost any other opponent, which could make him a decisive figure.
Udinese will look to Oumar Solet, who has scored in his last two appearances. Another goal would see him become the first defender in the club’s history to score in three straight Serie A games during the three-points-per-win era.
In terms of team news, Charalampos Lykogiannis remains the main injury concern for Bologna after missing their last two matches. Alessandro Zanoli is unavailable for Udinese.
Betting Analysis
Given the unpredictable nature of both sides and their recent defensive inconsistencies, both teams to score remains a logical angle. This fixture has often produced goals at both ends, and current form suggests another open contest could be on the cards.
