Still seeking their first Serie A victory of the new campaign, Bologna play host to Salernitana at the Renato Dall'Ara on Thursday evening.

The visitors, meanwhile, will be looking to follow up an impressive four-goal triumph over Sampdoria with another three points in Northern Italy.

Match preview

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Bologna have picked up just one point from their opening three Serie A games this term, with a 1-1 draw at home to Hellas Verona sandwiched in between two away defeats against Lazio and AC Milan.

I Rossoblu were condemned to a 2-0 defeat at San Siro last weekend, and despite edging out the Scudetto holders in possession, they failed to boast a single shot on target. Bologna were at least able to keep all 11 players on the pitch on this occasion, after seeing Adama Soumaoro and Riccardo Orsolini sent off in their previous two league games against Lazio and Verona respectively.

Head coach Sinisa Mihajlovic now has plenty to ponder as they head into September, with favourable-looking fixtures against the likes of Salernitana, Spezia and Empoli on the horizon.

Bologna have a mixed record against Thursday's opponents Salernitana, as they have won, drawn and lost two games each. They managed to claim four points against them last season, though, including a 3-2 home victory in August.

Last season's top scorer Marko Arnautovic was on the scoresheet in both encounters against the Garnets last term, and the experienced Austrian will be confident of finding the net once again on Thursday, having already scored twice in three matches this season.

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After failing to win or score in their opening two Serie A matches of the new season, Salernitana found their form in front of goal last weekend as they claimed an impressive 4-0 home victory against Sampdoria.

The Garnets came out of the blocks quickly and were two goals in front within the first 16 minutes courtesy of strikes from Boulaye Dia and Federico Bonazzoli, before Tonny Vilhena and Erik Botheim found the net in the second half to wrap up their biggest top-flight win for over 23 years.

Head coach Davide Nicola has experienced a hectic summer transfer window, recruiting 20 players and spending just over €20m, and the Italian will have been delighted to have seen four of his new additions get their names on the scoresheet last time out.

Salernitana head into Thursday's contest unbeaten in their last five Serie A away matches, their best-ever run in the competition, but they have never won a top-flight clash on the road against Bologna, losing five and drawing the other two.

It took the Garnets 10 Serie A matches to accumulate seven points last season, but a victory on Thursday would see them reach the same tally after just four games this term.

Team News

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Bologna defender Mitchell Dijks is the club's only injury concern at present, while Riccardo Orsolini is able to return from suspension and is expected to start in attack alongside Arnautovic, with Musa Barrow dropping to the bench as a result.

Mihajlovic may decide to freshen up his starting lineup, with defenders Charalampos Lykogiannis and Kevin Bonifazi potentially coming into the back three ahead of Adama Soumaoro and Jhon Lucumi, although Chilean veteran Gary Medel is set to continue at the heart of the defence.

Scotsman Lewis Ferguson and Roberto Soriano will both be pushing to start after beginning on the bench last weekend, and either player could replace Emanuel Vignato in midfield.

As for Salernitana, Franck Ribery and Emil Bohinen are both ruled out with knee injuries, while Ivan Radovanovic and Matteo Lovato are sidelined with respective calf and ankle problems.

Former Inter Milan man Antonio Candreva, who has scored three Serie A goals against Bologna, is expected to continue at right wing-back, with Pasquale Mazzocchi set to operate on the opposite flank.

Federico Bonazzoli is likely to keep his place up front alongside Dia – the former has scored 11 Serie A goals for the Garnets, with only Marco Di Vaio (12) having scored more for the club in their top-flight history.

Bologna possible starting lineup:
Skorupski; Bonifazi, Medel, Lykogiannis; Kasius, Dominguez, Schouten, Soriano, Cambiaso; Oriolini, Arnautovic

Salernitana possible starting lineup:
Sepe; Bronn, Gyomber, Fazio; Candreva, Coulibaly, Maggiore, Vilhena, Mazzocchi; Dia, Bonazzoli

We say: Bologna 1-1 Salernitana

Salernitana head into this fixture in high spirits following last weekend's convincing victory, while Bologna will be fired up as they bid to turn their fortunes around.

Nevertheless, with little to separate these two closely-matched teams, a score draw could be on the cards at the Renato Dall'Ara.

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

Written by
Oliver Thomas

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