Preview:Bologna vs Como - prediction, team news, lineups

Looking to get off the mark at their second attempt, Bologna will welcome Como to Stadio Dall'Ara on Saturday evening.

Both sides played capital clubs on Serie A's opening matchday: the Rossoblu were edged out by Roma, while their big-spending visitors stunned Lazio.

Match preview

After ending last season on a high by lifting the Coppa Italia, Bologna made a disappointing start to their 2025-26 campaign last weekend, losing 1-0 in Rome and seeing two players struck down by significant injury.

Perhaps distracted by intense transfer speculation, Jhon Lucumi's clumsy error led to Roma's winning goal, while Nicolo Casale and summer signing Ciro Immobile both limped off, marking a miserable return to Stadio Olimpico for the latter.

So, not only have Bologna won just two of their last 16 season openers, they are also on a run of four consecutive league defeats dating back to last term.

That represents the first time they have lost four straight Serie A matches since 2018, so cup-winning coach Vincenzo Italiano will be keen to get back on track.

Set to start their Europa League campaign next month, the Rossoblu now return to home turf, having won all of their last four top-flight games against Como at the Dall'Ara without conceding.

Dating back several decades, Como have won only two of their last seven Serie A clashes with Bologna - and from last term's meetings, they picked up just one point.

Yet, this time they will head to Emilia-Romagna full of confidence from another lavish summer of squad-building and an impressive opening-day success.

Last Sunday, the Lombardy club beat Lazio 2-0 at Stadio Sinigaglia, with star man Nico Paz setting up one goal and scoring a spectacular free kick that nestled into the top corner.

Cesc Fabregas - who led the Lariani to a top-half finish on his Serie A coaching debut, then turned down overtures from Inter Milan - had previously seen his side kick off with a 3-1 Coppa Italia win over Sudtirol.

Keen to push for a place in Europe, they have continued to splash the cash, signing the likes of Alvaro Morata - a former Spain teammate of Fabregas - plus La Liga talents Jesus Rodriguez and Jacobo Ramon.

Having followed several high-profile wins in pre-season with a sharp start to competitive action, Como will now try to post six points from their first two Serie A fixtures for the first time since 1951.

Bologna Serie A form: L

Como Serie A form: W

Como form (all competitions): W W

Team News

Bologna boss Italiano is set to be without Ciro Immobile (thigh) until October and Nicolo Casale (hamstring) for up to four weeks, so he will make at least two changes this weekend.

Emil Holm is also injured, but fellow full-back Juan Miranda returns after serving a suspension; new buy Nadir Zortea should start, while English winger Jonathan Rowe - just signed from Marseille - may be named on the bench.

Another wide man, last season's top scorer Riccardo Orsolini, has been directly involved in seven goals across his last eight home appearances. In Immobile's absence, he will support Santiago Castro up front.

While Orsolini has been enjoying an extended purple patch, Como playmaker Nico Paz has played a part in four goals across his last four league matches.

The Tottenham Hotspur target will link up with either Morata or Tasos Douvikas, the latter of whom has found the net three times in two games this season.

Nicolas Kuhn could be back in action, but Assane Diao (foot) and Alberto Dossena (ACL) are still sidelined.

Bologna possible starting lineup: Skorupski; Zortea, Vitik, Heggem, Miranda; Freuler, Pobega; Orsolini, Odgaard, Cambiaghi; Castro

Como possible starting lineup: Butez; Van Der Brempt, Ramon, Kempf, Valle; Perrone, Da Cunha; Vojvoda, Paz, Rodriguez; Douvikas

We say: Bologna 1-1 Como

Bologna have gone off the boil since winning the Coppa Italia, and their impressive feats of the last two years will be hard to repeat.

One of the Rossoblu's potential challengers for a top-six finish, Como can escape with a point, as they have shored up their defence and will surely score at some stage.

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