Bologna – Sampdoria : Preview & Prediction
Replacing fan favorite Siniša Mihajlović with Thiago Motta on the bench has not improved Bologna’s fortunes, and a 3-0 loss to Juventus last term means they now record back-to-back defeats without being able to score in Serie A (SA). Motta admitted that the team “needs to improve in all areas” after the latest defeat kept his side just one point above the relegation zone, and he now risks becoming the first Bologna coach since Delio Rossi in 2015 to lose his first three top-flight games.
If it is that he fails to score and loses in this clash, then it will be the first time since September 2011 that Bologna have lost three consecutive SA games without seeing an opponent’s goal, something that only increases the pressure on Motta. There seems to be a lot at stake in this “six-point” relegation clash, as Bologna face Sampdoria, who are in last place, but the home side can at least say they have won each of the last seven clashes against this opponent in SA.
Sampdoria are still winless (E2, P6) and sacked Marco Giampaolo after a 3-0 loss to Monza last weekend, a result that also materialized their worst start to a top flight season after eight rounds, and now his replacement on an interim basis will be Felice Tufano. The arrival of Dejan Stanković could improve the team, but this may not be an ideal trip for Sampdoria, as they have not won an away clash against this opponent in SA since November 2003 (E5, P8).
That does not favor a team already low on confidence after four consecutive defeats, and now on the verge of suffering five straight losses in SA for the first time since November 2012. Avoiding that unwanted record may require a monumental effort here for Sampdoria, as they are on a run of five consecutive defeats in away league games, a run that saw them concede at least two goals on each occasion.
Players to watch: Marko Arnautović has scored six of Bologna’s last seven goals in SA and has netted three in their last two league games against Sampdoria (G2). Charting Sampdoria’s renaissance is Francesco Caputo, who has scored five SA goals against Bologna and his team has never lost in those clashes (G3, E1). In addition, his five goals against this opponent are the most in his career against the same team.
Weekend stat: Five of SA’s last seven meetings between the two sides have gone goalless before halftime.
Absentees
Bologna – Sampdoria : Betting Tips
OVER 2.5 GOALS Odds: 2.25
