Serie A: Bologna Will Test Scudetto Chasing Napoli

Bologna vs Napoli

Another weekend of Serie A football approaches and there are plenty of high-stakes clashes to get stuck into, with the Round 31 finishing up in Bologna, where the fourth-placed side welcome second-placed Napoli.    

Inter Milan, current leaders and clear title favourites according to the latest Serie A betting odds, are away to Parma on Saturday afternoon and could ramp up the pressure on long-term league leaders Napoli by stretching the gap to six points. Then from Bologna’s point of view their fans will be keeping an eye on the Serie A updates on Sunday when third placed Atalanta host Lazio who are lurking in seventh; and there’s another eye-catching clash, sixth versus fifth, as Roma, on a run of seven consecutive league wins, host Juventus who have just changed their manager with Igor Tudor taking the reigns in Turin.  

Back to the Monday night match, both teams returned from the international break with a victory, Bologna winning 1-0 away to Venezia while Napoli picked up a crucial 2-1 win at home to AC Milan.  

 

Talking Points

Orsolini is on fire for Bologna

Vincenzo Italiano’s Bologna are in good shape to improve on their fifth placed finish last term and they are going well in the Coppa Italia too, beating Empoli 3-0 on Tuesday to take charge of their semi-final. The Rossoblu have a man in form in the shape of 28-year-old winger Riccardo Orsolini who has scored 11 Serie A goals this season, the same tally as Napoli’s Romelu Lukaku, and Orsolini has scored in each of Bologna’s last three games. At 6ft tall the Azzurri star is a powerful runner with quick feet and he loves to take on defenders, often cutting in from the right to unleash a shot with his preferred left foot. With Argentine forward Santiago Castro, who has eight goals and four assists, currently sidelined the Bologna front line will have a slightly different look and there could be a start for Dutch forward Thijs Dallinga, who scored a brace in the Coppa win over Empoli. Utility forward Jens Odegaard will also feature; he made an assist on Tuesday and has been in the goals too in recent weeks, while supply may well come from flying left wingback Juan Miranda who has made six assists so far this season.

This is a team bang in form and they’ll take the game to their visitors, but Antonio Conte’s Napoli will be a tough nut to crack.        

 

McTominay boost for Napoli

One of the main factors behind I Partenopei’s Scudetto charge has been the form of ex Manchester United midfielder Scott McTominay, who’s all-action box-to-box displays have made him a firm fans favourite. The 28-year-old missed the win over AC Milan because he reported an illness on the morning of the match and didn’t feel well enough to take part. But he has been training with the first team this week and seems to have shaken off the illness that troubled him at the weekend. That’s good news for Conte and he’s sure to start with the powerful Scot, probably in place of his countryman Billy Gilmour who put in a good shift against I Rossoneri, making an assist for Lukaku. Mateo Politano scored Napoli’s other goal and the manager is likely to keep that front two together.

Napoli re-ignited their Scudetto bid, passing that tough test against Europe chasing AC Milan, but with their key man fit and ready to go there will be at least one change.  Alongside McTominay, Frank Anguissa and Stanislav Lobotka will make up a formidable midfield trio and that is where Conte will hope to dominate.      

 

History

Napoli have won 22 of the previous 42 meetings, while Bologna have won 12, and there have been eight draws in all competitions since 1996.  In fact, I Rossoblu have only won one of the last ten league encounters, drawing three and losing six; and Napoli have scored the most goals of any team against Bologna in Serie A, hitting the Rossoblu net 197 times.  

When the two teams met in Naples back in August, Napoli’s electric start was too much for Bologna as the now departed Khvicha Kvaratskhelia inspired I Partenopei to a 3-0 win.   

Another three goals will bring up the 200 for Napoli, but Bologna have been impressive at home, with nine wins, five draws and one defeat; and they have won their last six outings, while Napoli have won two, drawn three and lost just one.  

 

Betting Tip

The pressure is on both teams in this huge clash with points at a premium and Bologna are priced, here at SBOTOP, at 2.68 to win, with Napoli at 2.43 while a draw is at 2.88.  

Napoli, Draw no Bet can be backed at 1.84, but I’m going with the hosts who are very strong on home turf and have been in superb form in front of their passionate fans.

   

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