As the Serie A season continues, Bologna is set to host Roma at the Stadio Dall’Ara this Sunday evening, marking their first match of the new year. After a week off while Roma competed in the Supercoppa Italiana, Bologna will be eager to make a strong statement against a team buoyed by recent success in the Rome derby.
Bologna enter this match after a disappointing 3-2 defeat to Hellas Verona in their last outing, which capped off a challenging end to 2024. The Rossoblu were reduced to ten men when Tommaso Pobega received a red card early in the second half. Despite a valiant effort that saw rising star Benjamin Dominguez score twice, an unfortunate own goal from Santiago Castro ultimately cost them dearly.
Despite this setback, Bologna remain competitive in the league, currently sitting seventh and within striking distance of the top four. Their home form has been particularly strong; they have only trailed for 15 minutes at Stadio Dall’Ara this season, showcasing their resilience on home turf.
In contrast, Roma come into this match riding high after a significant 2-0 victory over Lazio in the Derby della Capitale. Under interim coach Claudio Ranieri, the Giallorossi have shown signs of improvement, winning three of their last five league matches. This resurgence has helped them climb into the top half of the table as they aim for European qualification.
Bologna’s approach will likely focus on maintaining solid defensive organization while looking for opportunities to counterattack. They will aim to exploit any defensive lapses from Roma, especially given their recent struggles away from home.
Roma’s strategy under Ranieri is expected to emphasize quick transitions and controlling midfield play. With Dybala’s creativity and ability to find space, Roma will look to capitalize on Bologna’s defensive weaknesses and secure their first away win since September.
Historically, Bologna have had the upper hand in recent encounters with Roma, winning their last three meetings with an aggregate score of 8-3. This trend adds pressure on Roma as they seek to reverse their fortunes against a team that has proven difficult to beat at home.
Team News
Bologna will face challenges with squad depth as Tommaso Pobega is suspended following his red card against Verona. Manager Vincenzo Italiano will need to adjust his midfield options, likely bringing in either Lewis Ferguson or Nikola Moro to partner with Remo Freuler. Long-term absentees Oussama El Azzouzi and Nicolo Cambiaghi are back in training but are not yet ready for match action. Meanwhile, Riccardo Orsolini has been instrumental in attack, contributing significantly in recent matches.
For Roma, Paulo Dybala is expected to play a crucial role as he has historically performed well against Bologna, scoring seven goals against them in Serie A. The team has received a boost with Bryan Cristante returning from injury and Zeki Celik overcoming illness. Ranieri is likely to retain the lineup that secured victory over Lazio, featuring Dybala and Artem Dovbyk leading the attack.
Expected Starting XIs
Bologna: Skorupski; Holm, Beukema, Lucumi, Miranda; Freuler, Ferguson; Orsolini, Odgaard, Ndoye; Castro
Roma: Svilar; Mancini, Hummels, Ndicka; Saelemaekers, Kone, Paredes, Pellegrini, Angelino; Dybala, Dovbyk
Match Prediction
Given Bologna’s strong home record and Roma’s inconsistent away form, this match promises to be competitive. Both teams have shown flashes of quality recently but also possess vulnerabilities that could be exploited.
Prediction: Bologna 1-1 Roma
