Bologna will look to cap off a remarkable year with a victory as they host Hellas Verona at the Stadio Renato Dall’Ara on Monday. The Rossoblu, fresh off their historic Champions League qualification last season, are once again in contention for European spots, while Verona find themselves in a familiar battle against relegation.
Bologna enter the match in excellent form, unbeaten in their last six matches across all competitions. Their recent 2-0 victory over Torino, with goals from Thijs Dallinga and Tommaso Pobega, showcased their attacking prowess and defensive solidity. The team has been particularly strong at home, going unbeaten in their last 11 league fixtures at the Dall’Ara and keeping clean sheets in their last four.
Hellas Verona, on the other hand, have struggled mightily this season. They’ve lost 20 league matches in 2024, surpassing an unwanted club record. Their recent 1-0 home defeat to AC Milan further highlighted their defensive woes, as they’ve conceded in each of their last 14 league matches.
Santiago Castro has been a standout performer for Bologna this season, directly involved in seven league goals. His form has attracted attention from other clubs, making him a player to watch in this match.
For Verona, Darko Lazovic could be crucial, having provided five assists against Bologna in previous Serie A encounters, with three of those coming at the Dall’Ara.
Team News
Bologna coach Vincenzo Italiano will have a nearly full-strength squad at his disposal. Dan Ndoye and Riccardo Orsolini are expected to return to the starting lineup, bolstering the team’s attacking options. However, Michel Aebischer joins long-term absentees Nicolo Cambiaghi and Oussama El Azzouzi on the sidelines.
Verona will be without Juan Cruz, Martin Frese, and Abdou Harroui due to injuries. There are also doubts surrounding the fitness of Pawel Dawidowicz and Amin Sarr. If Sarr is unavailable, Casper Tengstedt could lead the attack, supported by Tomas Suslov and Darko Lazovic.
Expected Starting XIs
Bologna: Skorupski; Holm, Beukema, Lucumi, Miranda; Freuler, Pobega; Orsolini, Odgaard, Ndoye; Castro
Verona: Montipo; Daniliuc, Coppola, Ghilardi; Tchatchoua, Duda, Belahyane, Lazovic; Kastanos, Suslov; Tengstedt
Match Prediction
Given Bologna’s strong home form and Verona’s defensive struggles, the hosts are favored to secure a comfortable victory. Bologna’s attacking options should prove too much for Verona’s leaky defense, allowing the Rossoblu to end 2024 on a high note and maintain their push for European qualification.
Prediction: Bologna 2-0 Hellas Verona
