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Bologna logo
Serie A | Gameweek 34
Apr 28, 2024 at 2pm UK
Stadio Renato Dall'Ara
Udinese logo

Bologna
1 - 1
Udinese

Saelemaekers (78')
Beukema (55'), Zirkzee (75')
Beukema (64')
FT(HT: 0-1)
Payero (45+1')
Ehizibue (42'), Okoye (50'), Lucca (53'), Perez (68'), Payero (82'), Davis (89'), Ferreira (90+2')

Preview: Bologna vs. Udinese - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Sunday's Serie A clash between Bologna and Udinese, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Closing in on a place in next season's Champions League, Serie A's surprise package Bologna host relegation-threatened Udinese on Sunday.

Curiously, both teams played Roma last time out; while Bologna won their top-five tussle last weekend, Udinese suffered a last-gasp defeat to the capital club on Thursday evening.


Match preview

Bologna's Joshua Zirkzee celebrates after the match on March 3, 2024© Reuters

Having come out on top in a contest between two teams vying for Champions League qualification, Bologna's 3-1 defeat of Roma left the Emilian club eight points clear of sixth-placed Atalanta BC, and a place in Italy's final top five is very much theirs to lose.

A surprise selection by the Rossoblu's tactical maestro Thiago Motta, Moroccan midfielder Oussama El Azzouzi spectacularly opened the scoring at Stadio Olimpico, where Alexis Saelemaekers and top scorer Joshua Zirkzee were also on target for the visitors.

They now return to their stronghold at Stadio Dall'Ara, which has witnessed 12 wins from 17 Serie A fixtures this season; either home or away, Bologna's sole loss in their last 13 league matches was to new champions Inter Milan last month.

A tally of 62 points so far represents the club's best rate at this stage of a top-flight campaign since 1967, so it is no wonder that Motta's work in Emilia-Romagna is drawing admiring glances from across the continent.

His side rarely know when they are beaten, too, as only Napoli and Cagliari have gained more points from losing positions - the potency of Zirkzee and Italy winger Riccardo Orsolini always offers a threat, while several other players have chipped in with crucial goals.

However, one occasion the Rossoblu failed to fight back from behind was in December's reverse fixture against Udinese, which they surprisingly lost 3-0.

Udinese's Lazar Samardzic celebrates scoring their first goal with Florian Thauvin on April 8, 2024© Reuters

Winless in their last five visits to the Dall'Ara, there will be some 34 points separating Udinese from their hosts when Sunday's game kicks off, following a dismal 2023-24 campaign.

While Bologna are comeback kings, only Sassuolo have dropped more points from winning positions than the Friulani (22) throughout Serie A, and they somehow let a draw slip from their grasp deep into stoppage-time of an unusual encounter in midweek.

With a new coach in charge - since previous boss Gabriele Cioffi had been replaced by Fabio Cannavaro just a few days earlier - Udinese played out the final 18 minutes of their game against Roma, nearly two weeks after Evan Ndicka's collapse caused it to be suspended.

They re-started level at 1-1, but Bryan Cristante headed home from a corner in the dying embers to break Bianconeri hearts and spoil Cannavaro's grand arrival.

Though Udinese remain one of seven teams trying to avoid two relegation places alongside Serie B-bound Salernitana, the Italy legend at least inherits a team with 16 points from as many away games so far - more than any other side still scrapping for survival.

Bologna Serie A form:

Udinese Serie A form:


Team News

Bologna coach Thiago Motta talks to Victor Kristiansen and Sam Beukema on April 13, 2024© Reuters

Despite enjoying a successful trip to Rome last week, Bologna boss Thiago Motta may still make changes to his starting XI on Sunday, as Riccardo Orsolini is expected to regain his place in the lineup and Victor Kristiansen could also return at left-back.

However, Oussama El Azzouzi's bold performance at the Olimpico may help him hold off competition from Giovanni Fabbian to support star striker Joshua Zirkzee in attack.

In addition to captain Lewis Ferguson (ACL), Adama Soumaoro (knee) and Jens Odgaard (thigh) are still sidelined by injury.

While Nehuen Perez has recovered from a blow to the head suffered on Thursday, Udinese will again be without Florian Thauvin, Enzo Ebosse, Sandi Lovric and long-term absentee Gerard Deulofeu this weekend.

It remains to be seen whether Fabio Cannavaro will make many alterations to the Bianconeri's ingrained three-at-the-back formation, but his options are seriously limited in attack.

Captain Roberto Pereyra is therefore set to support top scorer Lorenzo Lucca up front, having been involved in two goals in his last three appearances - he also found the net in December's reverse fixture.


Bologna possible starting lineup:
Skorupski; Posch, Beukema, Calafiori, Kristiansen; Freuler, Aebischer; Orsolini, El Azzouzi, Saelemaekers; Zirkzee

Udinese possible starting lineup:
Okoye; Kristensen, Bijol, Perez; Ehizibue, Payero, Walace, Samardzic, Kamara; Pereyra; Lucca


SM words green background

We say: Bologna 1-0 Udinese

Bologna boast Serie A's second-best home record, so seeing off struggling Udinese seems straightforward on paper. With a new boss in charge and facing the distinct danger of relegation, the Fruilani should put up a brave fight before succumbing again.


For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.


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Written by
Jonathan O'Shea

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Game History

How you voted: Bologna vs Udinese

Bologna
84.6%
Draw
7.7%
Udinese
7.7%
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Udinese's Florian Thauvin celebrates scoring their second goal with teammates on January 20, 2024
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Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Atalanta BCAtalanta16121339172237
2Napoli16112324111335
3Inter Milan15104140152534
4Fiorentina1594228111731
5Lazio1610153023731
6Juventus16610026121428
7AC Milan167542516926
8Bologna156722118325
9Udinese166281925-620
10Empoli164751416-219
11Torino165471720-319
12Roma164481823-516
13Genoa163761324-1116
14Lecce164481027-1716
15Parma163672328-515
16Como163671828-1015
17Hellas VeronaHellas Verona1750122140-1915
18CagliariCagliari163581526-1114
19Monza161781421-710
20VeneziaVenezia1624101529-1410


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