Bologna vs Udinese Preview & Prediction | 2024-25 Italian Serie A
Click here for today’s sports betting tips from our expert analysts!
It was a magnificent and historic campaign for Bologna last season as they propelled themselves into the UEFA Champions League but there has been a lot of change this summer as they prepare to kick off their Serie A campaign against Udinese this weekend.
KICK-OFF DATE/TIME: Sunday 18th August, 2024 - UK – 5:30pm / US ET – 12:30pm / US PT – 9:30am
HOW TO WATCH ON TV: UK – TNT Sports OR Not televised / US – Select matches will be televised on CBS Sports so it is worth checking their schedule
HOW TO WATCH ONLINE: UK – discovery+ OR Cannot be streamed / US – Paramount+
BOLOGNA PREVIEW: EXODUS OF BOLOGNA
After finishing fifth and taking advantage of Italy getting one more UEFA Champions League spot thanks to the new rules, Bologna manager Thiago Motta was poached by Juventus and several key first-teamers have also departed the club with Joshua Zirkzee signing for Manchester United and Riccardo Calafiori moving to Arsenal.
They have replaced Motta with former Fiorentina boss Vincenzo Italiano, who led I Viola to two UEFA Europa Conference League finals and one Coppa Italia final in the space of two seasons. He has been able to replenish the squad with some intriguing additions, such as Thijs Dallinga and Nicolo Cambiaghi.
UDINESE PREVIEW: RESHIFTING THE FOCUS
The Pozzo family appear to have once again now fully shifted their attention away from Watford and back onto Udinese and when they decide to choose between one of their projects then that team does appear to do a lot better. After narrowly avoiding relegation on the final day of last season, they will have to be a lot better this time around.
One of the brightest sparks of the very long, almost 40-year Pozzo history, Alexis Sanchez, has returned to the club a decade after he departed for Barcelona. They have also brought in Damian Pizarro from Colo Colo, following the Alexis Sanchez route, as well as the likes of Goncalo Esteves and Jurgen Ekkelenkamp.
BOLOGNA TEAM NEWS: PLENTY OF PROBLEMS
Not only does Italiano have to deal with the sale of key players, Bologna are also suffering from several injury issues over the summer with Erik Holm, who signed on a permanent deal this summer, and Jhon Lucumi both sidelined.
Scotland international Lewis Ferguson, who was immense for the vast majority of last season, is still unavailable due to the ACL injury he suffered in the spring, too.
PREDICTED XI (4-2-3-1): Skorupski; Posch, Erlic, Beukema, Juan Miranda; Freuler, Fabbian; Cambiaghi, Orsolini, Ndoye; Dallinga
UNAVAILABLE: Jhon Lucumi (Injured), El Azzouzi (Injured), Aebischer (Injured), Holm (Injured), Urbanski (Injured), Ferguson (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE:
UDINESE TEAM NEWS: THE SAD STORY OF DEULOFEU
Former Everton, Watford and Barcelona winger Gerard Deulofeu has already discussed the possibility of retirement and the Spaniard remains unavailable with his knee injury. This weekend will be the 63rd successive match he has been sidelined for.
As well as Deulofeu, the Friulians will also be without defender Thomas Kristensen and their aforementioned new Chilean signing, Damian Pizarro, who are also both injured.
PREDICTED XI (3-4-1-2): Okoye; Perez, Bijol, Giannetti; Ehizibue, Lovric, Payero, Kamara; Thauvin; Brenner, Lucca
UNAVAILABLE: Kristensen (Injured), Deulofeu (Injured), Damian Pizarro (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE:
BOLOGNA VS UDINESE PREDICTION
Making a prediction based on last season for these two teams would have you expecting Bologna to absolutely hammer Udinese this weekend. However, the hosts are completely overhauled this summer and are also dealing with several injury issues. They do still have some talent but this Udinese team also looks quite exciting, especially after their 4-0 hammering of Avellino in the first-half last week. A double chance bet in favour of the away team may well be a good value bet here.
BOLOGNA VS UDINESE TIP: DOUBLE CHANCE – UDINESE TO WIN OR DRAW
