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

Sassuolo travel to the Renato Dall'Ara Stadium to face Bologna looking to extend their unbeaten record in Serie A to four matches.

Meanwhile, Bologna head into Sunday's fixture sitting in 11th position in the standings after collecting three points from as many games.

Match preview

In Cagliari, Spezia and Crotone, there is no doubting that Sassuolo were presented with the most favourable opening triple-header in Serie A during September and the early days of October.

However, I Neroverdi have still been required to collect the points expected of them, building on a 1-1 draw in their first fixture with two 4-1 victories in the following games.

While Roberto De Zerbi will be delighted with seven points from a possible nine, the cherry on the cake has been as many as six players chipping in with goals during that period.

With Jeremie Boga still to return to the starting lineup, De Zerbi will feel that his squad of players have the potential to make a sustained bid on the top seven this season, just a few months after they let slip of a similar opportunity.

From Bologna's perspective, Sinisa Mihajlovic would have been satisfied with three points being recorded from games against AC Milan and Parma.

The 1-0 reverse at Benevento has put a different complexion on things, however, with I Rossoblu now having to be wary about being pulled closer to the relegation zone.

Even though it is still early days in the campaign, Mihajlovic has ambitions to finish higher than last season's 12th spot, a position which was achieved despite 65 goals being conceded from 38 matches.

Three of Bologna's next four league matches are at home, something which could prove crucial with a four-match unbeaten streak having been put together at the Renato Dall'Ara Stadium.

Bologna Serie A form: LWL

Sassuolo Serie A form: DWW

Team News

Boga is in line to return to the Sassuolo squad after finally recording a negative coronavirus test, the first time that he has done so since August.

However, defender Jeremy Toljan misses out after testing positive earlier this week, while Vlad Chiriches is a doubt through injury.

Andrea Poli, Gary Medel and Mitchell Dijks are all expected to be missing for Bologna this weekend.

Andreas Skov Olsen is also a fitness doubt after missing out on training earlier this week, but Lukasz Skorupski and Mattias Svanberg may return to the first XI.

Bologna possible starting lineup: Skorupski; De Silvestri, Larangeira, Tomiyasu, Hickey; Svanberg, Schouten; Barrow, Soriano, Orsolini; Palacio

Sassuolo possible starting lineup: Consigli; Muldur, Chiriches, Ferrari, Kyriakopoulos; Locatelli, Bourabia; Berardi, Defrel, Djuricic; Caputo

We say: Bologna 1-2 Sassuolo

Sassuolo sit in a strong position in the table having been afforded a generous start to the season. However, that does not stop us from predicting a third successive win for the visitors, who should have enough quality and confidence in the final third to get the better of their hosts.

Top betting tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting under 3.5 goals in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Under 3.5:data