Continuing their quest for a top-four finish in Serie A, Coppa Italia finalists Bologna will meet Udinese on Monday.
Days after toppling mighty Inter Milan in the league, the Rossoblu wrapped up aggregate victory in the cup semi-finals, as their superb 2024-25 season nears its end.
Match preview
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Booking their place in Rome, Bologna extended a three-goal lead in the second leg of their Coppa Italia semi-final, with Thursday's 2-1 win setting up a clash with AC Milan next month.
Once again, Vincenzo Italiano's men beat an Empoli side clearly distracted by fighting for survival, with Thijs Dallinga scoring his third goal of the tie to secure success on the night.
Having already competed in the Champions League this season, it could be a groundbreaking campaign for the Emilian club, as they are also on course to finish inside Italy's top four.
Last time out in the league, Riccardo Orsolini found the net with a dramatic scissor-kick finish deep into second-half stoppage time, consigning Inter to defeat at Stadio Dall'Ara. The winger set his new personal scoring record in a Serie A season (12), while several others have reached new heights under former Fiorentina boss Italiano.
In 2025 alone, Bologna would sit second in the standings with 32 points, one ahead of Inter and two ahead of Napoli; furthermore, no team has scored more goals this calendar year (27).
Yet, Juventus, Fiorentina and both Rome clubs are all still fighting to snatch their Champions League spot away, so they cannot afford to make any mistakes during the run-in.
Having won only one of their last eight league games in Udine - failing to keep any clean sheets - the Rossoblu will now try to defy precedent by claiming maximum points on Monday.
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With seven draws between the sides in their last 10 Serie A contests, following a 1-1 result in this season's reverse fixture, Udinese have actually won only once during that period.
More recently, the Bianconeri have been nosediving towards the end of a previously promising season, taking just one point from their last six matches.
Still safely situated in mid-table, Kosta Runjaic's side lost 2-0 to Torino on Wednesday, slipping behind their opponents in the race for a top-10 finish.
Five straight losses have followed a six-match streak without defeat, and Udinese have been beaten without scoring in both of their last two home fixtures: 1-0 by Hellas Verona, then 4-0 by Milan.
They may have little left to play for, having comfortably avoided a desperate relegation battle like last season, but fans of the Friulani will still hope to witness an increasingly rare win.
Team News
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In midweek, Bologna made several changes to the team that lined up against Inter, and more can be expected on Monday.
Most notably, first-choice goalkeeper Lukasz Skorupski could start for the first time since recovering from injury, while Davide Calabria and captain Lewis Ferguson are also fit again. Only Emil Holm and Nicolo Casale are still sidelined.
Set to support either Santiago Castro or Thijs Dallinga up front, Riccardo Orsolini has already equalled his career best for Serie A goal involvements in a season (15); he has also scored three times against Udinese to date, including once in this season's reverse fixture.
Meanwhile, Udinese will be without their preferred front pair, as top scorer Lorenzo Lucca (calf) and French forward Florian Thauvin (foot) are currently on the treatment table.
In 18 league matches when they have started together, the Bianconeri have a win rate of 50% and a goals-per-game average of 1.4; in 15 games without at least one of them starting, that drops to 13% and 0.7 goals.
Keinan Davis and Alexis Sanchez - both afflicted by numerous injuries this term - are among the attacking options available to Kosta Runjaic instead.
Furthermore, Jordan Zemura and Isaak Toure are also ruled out, while defensive lynchpin Jaka Bijol must serve a suspension.
Udinese possible starting lineup:
Okoye; Kristensen, Kabasele, Solet; Ehizibue, Atta, Karlstrom, Payero, Kamara; Ekkelenkamp; Davis
Bologna possible starting lineup:
Skorupski; Calabria, Beukema, Lucumi, Miranda; Freuler, Aebischer; Orsolini, Odgaard, Dominguez; Castro
We say: Udinese 0-1 Bologna
Always tough to beat at the Dall'Ara, high-flying Bologna are also becoming a formidable force on the road.
So, as Udinese are clearly winding down towards the end of the season, their visitors are set to take three points back to Emilia-Romagna.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Jonathan O'Shea
