Roma v Bologna is a Week 16 match of Serie A and will be played on Wednesday at 16:30: odds, predictions, TV and streaming
José Mourinho cannot be satisfied with his Roma side’s performance in the first half of the season, which ended in the worst possible way.
The defeat in the derby against Lazio was the detonator and in the following match against Sassuolo, which ended 1-1, came the Portuguese coach’s famous outburst on live television against Dutchman Rick Karsdorp, evidently indicative of a climate of strong tension within the Giallorossi dressing room. In the last official match against Torino, it was Serbian Matic who avoided the second knockout in three games, converting a penalty kick in the dying minutes. Roma did not enchant even in the numerous friendlies they chose to play between the Japanese and Portuguese training camps. In this respect, the ugly 3-0 loss to Cadiz made the headlines, but was then partly forgotten thanks to two straight victories against Casa Pia and Waalwijk, won without conceding a goal.
Will Dybala be Roma’s ‘medicine’?
Encouraging numbers, then, for a side who haven’t kept their goal unbeaten since mid-October. Even if the Giallorossi’s real problem is offensive in nature: Roma have scored few goals (18) compared to the chances created.
And that is why the quality of Paulo Dybala, fresh from his World Cup triumph with his Argentina side, will be indispensable in the second half. Getting as close as possible to fourth place – now three points away – is Mourinho’s goal, starting with the match against Bologna of his former player at the time of the Inter Triplete Thiago Motta. The Italian-Brazilian coach has managed to turn the Bologna team inside out, and in the last five matches the red and blues have bagged four victories, interspersed only by the humiliating 6-1 defeat of Inter at the San Siro.
Roma v Bologna: latest line-up info
Mourinho struggles with the Dybala dilemma: the Lusitanian coach is undecided as to whether the Argentine should start in the first half alongside Zaniolo or bring him into the game. Pellegrini meanwhile will drop back a few metres, positioning himself in midfield alongside Cristante, while on the left flank Zalewski is likely to get the better of Spinazzola. The weight of the attack will once again be on the shoulders of Abraham, who has been disappointing so far. No dice for Wijnaldum, who will not return until mid-January.
On the other side, Thiago Motta will confirm the 4-2-3-1, with Medel and Dominguez in front of the defence. The Argentine risks something now that Schouten is back available. Soriano should start on the bench: Aebischer, Ferguson and Orsolini will act behind the goal scorer Arnautovic. The injured Barrow, Bonifazi, De Silvestri and Zirkzee are absent.
The Prediction
With Motta, Bologna have changed their attitude, the team is much more proactive and goals have often been seen in recent matches played by the Felsinei. That is why we do not expect a low-scoring game, with Roma almost obliged to win in order not to lose the Champions train and unable to settle for a point. We can give confidence to the Giallorossi, who should come out on top in a match with at least three goals in total. Watch out for Dybala, who has scored seven times in seven different matches against the red and blues.
Roma v Bologna: the likely matchday squad
- ROMA (3-4-2-1): Rui Patricio; Mancini, Smalling, Ibanez; Celik, Cristante, Pellegrini, Zalewski; Dybala, Zaniolo; Abraham.
- BOLOGNA (4-2-3-1): Skorupski; Posch, Soumaoro, Lucumì, Lykogiannis; Medel, Dominguez; Aebischer, Ferguson, Orsolini; Arnautovic.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 2-1
