Sassuolo – Bologna : Preview & Prediction
Since posting back-to-back wins over Juventus and Inter, Sassuolo have seen their season take a turn for the worse. A 2-0 loss to Lazio extended their winless streak to three games (E1, P2) and left them just four points above the relegation zone before the start of this matchday. The fear of further relegation perhaps stems from the fact that they have already lost five Serie A (SA) matches this season, and have only once suffered more defeats at this stage of an SA campaign.
Alessio Dionisi’s men have struggled to take advantage of home advantage of late, losing consecutive matches at the Stadio Mapei without a clean sheet. They have not recorded three straight scoreless defeats at home in SA since November 2017, but avoiding that fate looks a challenge against Bologna given the “Neroverdi’s” mediocre head-to-head record, winning just two of the previous nine meetings in which they were at home (E3, P4).
They will face a Bologna side in the midst of an eight-match unbeaten run (G3, E5), the longest active streak in SA, boosted by a 2-1 win over newly promoted Frosinone last weekend. You have to go back to January 2009 to find the last time the “Rossoblu” went this long without defeat in the league, so Thiago Motta’s men should be full of confidence as they look for a win that could see them level on points with fourth-placed Bologna.
The last time Bologna finished a season in the SA top four was in 1966/67, but if they are to achieve that feat again, maintaining their solid defense looks essential, as Motta’s men have only conceded seven goals in SA this season – a record only bettered by Inter and Juventus. That backline will hope to back up another tenacious performance away from home, especially as Bologna have drawn all four of their away games in SA this season, two of which were accompanied by an unbeaten run.
Players to watch: Both of Andrea Pinamonti’s home goals this season came in Sassuolo wins and, positively for the hosts, both of his career goals against their opponents came in wins for his team of the moment. Bologna will hope their counter attack comes from Lewis Ferguson, who directly contributed goals in his last three SA games (one goal, two assists) and also scored in their 3-0 win over Sassuolo last season.
SA games prior to this matchday, Sassuolo’s SA games averaged 11.8 corner kicks per game, the most in the league.
Sassuolo – Bologna : Betting Tips
Sassuolo – Win Odds: 2.60
