Bologna will look to regain their footing in Serie A as they face off against Venezia at Stadio Renato Dall’Ara on Saturday. Following a disappointing week in Europe, the Rossoblu are eager to secure a much-needed victory against the struggling Lagunari, who currently occupy the bottom position in the league.
Bologna enter this match after suffering a setback in their Champions League campaign, where they faced Lille and lost 2-1. Despite Colombian center-back Jhon Lucumi making history by scoring Bologna’s first goal in their inaugural Champions League season, it wasn’t enough to prevent defeat. The loss leaves Bologna near the bottom of their Champions League group standings, adding pressure as they return to domestic play.
In Serie A, Bologna’s recent form has been inconsistent. They experienced a tough loss against Lazio last week, where they played with ten men following Tommaso Pobega’s first-half red card. Lazio capitalized on Bologna’s fatigue, scoring three goals in the second half. Prior to this slump, Bologna had shown promise with three consecutive league victories, but they now find themselves eighth in the standings with only four wins from 17 matches across all competitions.
Despite these challenges, Bologna have maintained a strong home record this season. They remain one of only four teams—alongside Lazio, Fiorentina, and Juventus—yet to lose a league match at home. With four draws and one win from their five home games so far, head coach Vincenzo Italiano will be keen to improve their attacking output, having scored just five goals in eight home fixtures.
On the other hand, Venezia have struggled significantly this season and is currently at the bottom of the Serie A table. Their latest defeat came at the hands of Lecce, where they dominated possession but failed to convert any chances into goals. This loss marked another disappointment for a team that has struggled to maintain leads, dropping 14 points from winning positions since their return to Italy’s top flight.
Under the guidance of Eusebio Di Francesco, Venezia have only managed two wins across all competitions this season and remains winless on the road. Their away form is particularly concerning; they have not won any of their last 14 Serie A away matches, suffering 11 losses during that stretch.
Bologna’s recent Serie A form includes draws and losses that reflect their ongoing struggles. In all competitions, their form shows a mix of wins and losses alongside a recent defeat. Venezia’s recent Serie A results demonstrate a similar pattern of losses but highlight their resilience as they navigate through the season.
Team News
Bologna’s head coach Vincenzo Italiano may opt for changes to his lineup following their recent defeat. Santiago Castro is likely to replace Thijs Dallinga up front after showcasing his scoring ability from outside the box this season. Alongside Castro, Dan Ndoye and Riccardo Orsolini could feature prominently in attack. Scottish midfielder Lewis Ferguson recently returned from an ACL injury but may be rested after playing the full 90 minutes against Lille.
The Rossoblu will be without long-term absentees Nicolo Cambiaghi and Oussama El Azzouzi due to injuries, and Tommaso Pobega will serve a suspension following his red card last week.
Venezia travel to Emilia-Romagna with an almost fully fit squad; only Francesco Zampano is ruled out due to a fractured hand sustained earlier this week. Eusebio Di Francesco is expected to maintain a front line featuring Gianluca Busio and Gaetano Oristanio supporting Finnish striker Joel Pohjanpalo. Oristanio has been particularly effective lately, leading Serie A in successful dribbles and contributing significantly to Venezia’s attack.
Expected Starting XIs
Bologna: Skorupski; Posch, Beukema, Lucumi, Miranda; Freuler, Moro; Orsolini, Fabbian, Karlsson; Castro
Venezia: Stankovic; Idzes, Svoboda, Sverko; Ellertsson, Duncan, Nicolussi Caviglia, Haps; Busio, Oristanio; Pohjanpalo
Match Prediction
Given both teams’ struggles with offensive output this season and their positions in the league table, this match is expected to be closely contested. Bologna’s solid home record suggests they are favored to secure a narrow victory against a vulnerable Venezia side that has shown defensive frailties throughout the campaign. The prediction for this match is a 1-0 win for Bologna as they aim to end November on a high note and secure three valuable points in front of their home fans.
Prediction: Bologna 1-0 Venezia
