Bologna vs Fiorentina Preview: Team News & Prediction
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We have a meeting between Vincenzo Italiano’s current club, Bologna, up against his former club, Fiorentina, as his former side challenge for the Italian title beyond all expectation.
Kick-off date/time: Sunday 15th December, 2024: UK – 2:00pm / US ET – 9:00am / US PT – 6:00am
How to watch on TV: UK – Not televised / US – Select matches will be televised on CBS Sports so it is worth checking their schedule
How to watch online: UK – OneFootball / US – Paramount+
Bologna Preview: Adapting to Italiano
Vincenzo Italiano replaced Juventus-bound Thiago Motta over the summer and said he would be a good fit because his style of football is very similar to Motta. Bologna begin this weekend’s round of fixtures sitting reasonably tucked inside the top-half of the table.
The home team have struggled in the UEFA Champions League but have been improving domestically as they come into this one on the back of a 2-2 draw with Juventus in Turin at the J Stadium in a game in which they were 2-0 up and conceded in second-half stoppage-time.
Fiorentina Preview: I Viola on the march
Following the departure of Italiano, Fiorentina appointed former Monza boss Raffaele Palladino and I Viola have been magnificent after a tricky start to the campaign. They now begin the match day sitting three points off top spot with a game-in-hand.
In Serie A, Fiorentina’s most recent outing saw them defeat Cagliari by a goal to nil at the Artemio Franchi last weekend thanks to a 24th minute winner from Daniel Cataldi. They have dropped just two points in their last nine league games and that came against Internazionale.
Bologna Team News: Key injuries
Bologna are dealing with some key injury issues for this week as Switzerland international Michel Aebischer remains sidelined alongside attacking duo Riccardo Orsolini and Nicolo Cambiaghi with Charalampos Lykogiannis a doubt, too.
Stefan Posch is a fresh doubt having come off late against AC Milan in the Champions League on Wednesday with a knock.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Skorupski; Holm, Beukema, Jhon Lucumi, Juan Miranda; Freuler, Pobega; Ndoye, Odgaard, Iling-Junior; Castro
Unavailable: El Azzouzi (Injured), Aebischer (Injured), Orsolini (Injured), Cambiaghi (Injured)
Questionable: Lykogiannis (Injured), Posch (Injured)
Fiorentina Team News: Pongracic doubt
A couple of weeks ago, Roma loanee Edoardo Bove suffered a cardiac arrest against Internazionale. He is now out of intensive care but his future in the game remains a question. Marin Pongracic is also an injury doubt for Fiorentina this weekend.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): David de Gea; Dodo, Comuzzo, Ranieri, Gosens; Cataldi, Adli; Ikone, Beltran, Sottil; Kouame
Unavailable: Bove (Illness)
Questionable: Pongracic (Injured), Ranieri (Injured)
Bologna vs Fiorentina Prediction
Bologna have suffered just two defeats in their opening 14 matches of the campaign. If that had been offered to Bologna supporters a year ago then that would have been ideal but expectations have been raised. That said, there is an improvement and they are, in relative terms, strong. Raffaele Palladino is in charge of an impressive Fiorentina side that can be a little open at the back but haven’t necessarily been punished for that. Both teams scoring would appear a good bet for this one at the Renato Dall’Ara.
Bologna vs Fiorentina Tip: Both teams to score
