Udinese-Bologna is a match valid for the 18th day of Serie A and is played on Saturday at 3 p.m.: odds, predictions, TV, streaming.
In the era of three points per game, it had never happened that Bologna after the first 17 rounds of the championship had exceeded 30. Thiago Motta’s men with only two days to go have as many as 31 points and can safely daydream. Europe, which until a few months ago seemed an unreachable goal and out of reach for the Rossoblù, is now a more concrete goal than ever.
Bologna in the space of a week took the scalps of Roma, Inter and Atalanta. Two-nil to José Mourinho’s Giallorossi, victory at the San Siro in extra time against Serie A’s leading side and quarterfinal success against Dea, now in effect a direct contender for a place in the top seven. It was Scotland’s Ferguson, one of the most improved players during the Motta management, who gave the Italo-Brazilian coach three platinum points. The former Aberdeen man decided a well-balanced match in which Bologna defended impeccably – the third least beaten rearguard behind Inter and Juventus, with only 12 goals conceded – and struck at the right time (1-0), remaining in fourth place, alone, ahead of Fiorentina, Roma and Napoli and trailing Atalanta itself by five points. In the last game of the calendar year, Zirkzee and his teammates go on the hunt for confirmation in the always tricky Udine away game.
The Friulians have not won since the 0-1 San Siro win over Milan – their only success so far – last November. And in the last six days they have recorded two defeats and four draws, a result to which they are now subscribers (as many as 11, no one has collected more).
Udinese-Bologna: the latest lineup news
Cioffi’s only doubt is in attack, where Lucca is on the ballot with Success. Behind them Pereyra will act, as in Turin against Juric’s granata. The change will concern the left lane, where Zemura will take Kamara’s place. Behind Kristensen, Kabasele and Perez.
Motta is concerned about the condition of Ndoye, who left the field in the first half against Atalanta due to a muscle problem. If he doesn’t make it, Urbanski is ready.
The Prediction
Excluding the Coppa Italia match with Cagliari, since Gabriele Cioffi has been on the bench Udinese have never lost in front of their own public but neither won, limiting themselves to collecting only draws. The Bianconeri, fourth-last, certainly do not start favored against what is unquestionably the big surprise of this championship, but for Bologna it will not be a walk in the park to return with the three points even from the Bluenergy Stadium: away from home the Felsinei are less effective, having won only once in eight matches. The total goals could be less than four.
The probable lineups of Udinese-Bologna
UDINESE (3-5-1-1): Silvestri; Kristensen, Kabasele, Perez; Ebosele, Samardzic, Walace, Lovric, Zemura; Pereyra; Lucca.
BOLOGNA (4-3-3): Skorupski; Posch, Beukema, Calafiori, Kristiansen; Ferguson, Freuler, Moro; Urbanski, Zirkzee, Saelemaekers.
