After ending their long wait for victory in midweek, Serie A draw specialists Bologna will look to make it back-to-back wins when they host struggling Lecce at Stadio Renato Dall’Ara on Saturday afternoon. The Rossoblu finally tasted success after a two-month drought, while Lecce also secured a much-needed win to climb out of the relegation zone. However, both sides remain in precarious positions and will be desperate for points as they aim to climb the table.
Bologna’s 2-0 victory away at Cagliari on Tuesday night was their first win in 11 games under new manager Vincenzo Italiano. Goals from Riccardo Orsolini and Jens Odgaard ended a frustrating run and lifted the Rossoblu into the top half of the table. However, their home form remains a concern, with Bologna yet to win at the Dall’Ara this season.
In fact, Bologna have drawn all four of their home league games so far, part of an overall tally of six Serie A draws that leaves them level with Juventus as Italy’s single-point specialists. Italiano will be desperate to turn those draws into wins, starting on Saturday against a Lecce side low on confidence.
The midweek win should provide a timely boost, but Bologna must be wary of complacency against opponents who also ended their own winless run last time out. With big games against Monaco and Roma on the horizon, Italiano may rotate his squad, but securing back-to-back victories for the first time this season will be the priority.
Like their hosts, Lecce finally got back to winning ways in midweek with a narrow 1-0 victory over nine-man Hellas Verona. It was the Salentini’s first win since August, ending a dismal run of four straight defeats in which they had conceded 11 goals without reply.
Danish winger Patrick Dorgu was the hero, heading home the winner to lift Lecce out of the bottom three. However, manager Luca Gotti will be acutely aware that his side’s biggest weakness remains their lack of goals – they have scored just four times in Serie A this season.
The clean sheet against Verona was a positive sign, but Lecce must find a way to pose more of an attacking threat if they are to pull away from danger. The likes of Dorgu and striker Nikola Krstovic, who have scored two goals apiece, will be key to their hopes of causing an upset in Bologna.
With Bologna likely to dominate possession at home, the midfield battle will be crucial. The likes of Jerdy Schouten and Lewis Ferguson will look to control the tempo for the hosts, while Lecce will aim to spring quick counter-attacks through the pace of Dorgu and Gabriel Strefezza. Whichever side wins this tactical tussle could well emerge victorious.
Team News
Bologna boss Italiano faces some selection dilemmas, particularly up front where teenage striker Santiago Castro is competing with Dutchman Thijs Dallinga for the central striking berth. Midfielder Michel Aebischer is a long-term absentee after groin surgery, with Nikolo Moro and Tommaso Pobega the main candidates to replace him.
For Lecce, Kevin Bonifazi is ineligible to face his parent club, while Medon Berisha and Filip Marchwinski remain sidelined through injury. Gotti is likely to keep faith with goalscorer Dorgu and Krstovic in attack as the Salentini search for only their second away win of the campaign.
Expected Starting XIs
Bologna: Ravaglia; Posch, Beukema, Casale, Miranda; Freuler, Pobega; Orsolini, Fabbian, Ndoye; Castro
Lecce: Falcone; Guilbert, Gaspar, Baschirotto, Gallo; Coulibaly, Ramadani, Rafia; Dorgu, Krstovic, Banda
Match Prediction
While both teams ended their winless runs in midweek, Bologna’s superior quality should see them edge a tight encounter. The Rossoblu have struggled for goals at home, but Lecce’s defensive frailties mean they should create enough chances to secure a narrow victory. Italiano’s men to make it two wins from two and continue their climb up the table
Prediction: Bologna 2-0 Lecce
