Roma vs Bologna Prediction & Match Preview

Roma vs Bologna
Italy – Serie A
Date: Friday, 7 February 2020
Kick-off at 19:45 UK / 20:45 CET
Venue: Stadio Olimpico (Rome)

The Giallorossi will be looking to bounce back from last week’s defeat when they entertain in-form Bologna at the Stadio Olimpico on Friday.

Roma vs Bologna: Match Preview

Following a disappointing 2-4 defeat to Sassuolo in the previous round, Paulo Fonseca’s side will be eager to bounce back and earn three points in their next fixture, which sees them host Bologna at the Stadio Olimpico.

The Roman outfit are struggling to get results since the mid-season break as they only managed to collect four points from their last five league outings. With 39 points to their name, the Giallorossi are sitting at fifth position on the ladder, behind Atalanta on goal difference.

Roma have recorded five wins, three draws and three defeats at home this season, averaging 1.82 goals scored per match, whilst shipping 1.45 in return. They have racked up seven points from their last five home games (2W, 1D, 2L).

Bologna, on the other hand, are enjoying a decent run of form having won four of their last seven league matches. Sinisa Mihajlovic’s men have recorded their second consecutive Serie A win and extended their unbeaten run to three games with a 2-1 triumph over Brescia, thanks to Mattia Bani’s late winner.

The Emilia-Romagna giants are eleventh in the standings, levelled on points with Napoli and Verona, and two points off sixth-placed Cagliari.

The Greyhounds have posted four wins, two draws and five losses away from Renato Dall’Ara, netting 1.55 goals per bout and conceding 1.64. They have won three of their last five away fixtures.

Roma vs Bologna: Team News & Probable Lineups

Zaniolo (18 games, 4 goals) and Zappacosta (1/0) are surely out; Mkhitaryan (9/3) and Diawara (12/0) will be evaluated before the game and Pellegrini (16/1) is banned.

Roma (4-2-3-1) – Pau Lopez – Spinazzola, Mancini, Smalling, Kolarov – Villar, Cristante – Under, Perotti, Kluivert – Dzeko

Dijks (4/0), Krejci (10/1), Medel (13/0), Sansone (21/4) and Santander (19/1) are on the guests’ injury list; Andrea Poli (20/2) is suspended on yellow card accumulation.

Bologna (4-2-3-1) – Skorupski – Mbaye, Bani, Danilo, Tomiyasu – Schouten, Poli – Orsolini, Soriano, Barrow – Palacio

Roma vs Bologna: Head-to-head (h2h)

• Overall Stats (40 games): Roma 22 Wins, Bologna 7 Wins, 11 Draws.
• Roma have won 13 of their 20 home matches against ‘I Veltri’.
• On average 2.95 goals have been scored per game in their meetings at the Olimpico.
• The Giallorossi have won five of the last seven outings vs Bologna.
• Paulo Fonseca’s boys topped Bologna 2-1 in the reverse fixture earlier in the season.

Roma vs Bologna: Prediction

Roma are big favorites to claim their fifteenth win of the season, but with their poor defensive record of late (12 goals conceded over the least six league games), I’d rather pick goals on both ends.

The visitors are a dangerous side, quite similar to Sassuolo in many ways, with technical players in the attacking department, and I’m quite confident they will find the back of the net on Friday.

With a 2-1 or 2-2 hunch, I will pick at least three goals to be scored. 64 percent of Giallorossi’s games at the Olimpico had over 2.5 goals and the same bet landed in six of the last seven Bologna’s road games.

Roma vs Bologna: Betting Tips

• Both Teams to Score – Yes @ 1.62

• Over 2.5 goals @ 1.57.f