Serie A: Roma and Bologna Battle for Champions League Football

AS Roma vs Bologna

Fifth faces fourth in the Serie A match of Round 33 on Monday as Roma aim to pile the pressure on this season’s surprise package Bologna.

This game is a pivotal match for both clubs who have each had sensational campaigns in their own way. Daniele De Rosssi has reignited Roma’s top four hopes since taking over from the sacked Jose Mourinho in January, while Thiago Motta has become one of the hottest coaches in European football having taken unfashionable Bologna to the brink of Champions League qualification.

I Giallorossi are currently four points behind their visitors with a game in hand, and a win would put their destiny in their own hands, but the pre-match Serie A 2024 betting odds say this clash could easily go either way.

Roma beat AC Milan to progress to the Europa League semi-final in midweek, and De Rossi’s team beat Lazio in the Rome Derby in their last league outing.

Meanwhile, Bologna come into the game on the back of two goalless draws, away to Frosinone and at home to Monza.

Talking Points

Dybala back in the goals

Roma’s two-leg Europa League victory over AC Milan, some 14 points above them in the Serie A table, shows just how far De Rossi has brought I Giallorossi in the three months since his arrival as head coach.

Having won the first leg in Milan 1-0, Roma scored two early goals through Paulo Dybala and Gianluca Mancini to take a firm grip on the tie. Even without Mehmet Zeki Celik, who was red carded on the half-hour for a reckless tackle on Rafael Leao, the 10 men of Roma held I Rossoneri at bay until Matteo Gabbia scored a late consolation.

Paulo Dybala will step up when AS Roma face Bologna in their upcoming Serie A match — AS Roma’s Paulo Dybala celebrates scoring their second goal against Feyenoord in the Europa League

With 12 goals and eight assists in 23 Serie A games, Dybala has become rejuvenated this season and has responded brilliantly to De Rossi’s arrival, but he has had a quiet period in recent weeks, and he’ll be delighted to be back on the score sheet.

The Argentine hitman leads the Roma attack, alongside Romelu Lukaku, who has 11 goals, while wide-man Lorenzo Pellegrini is another star who has thrived under De Rossi as he’s weighed in with seven goals and three assists, including the winner in a recent 1-0 victory over Sassuolo.

De Rossi has made an enforced change at the back following the loss of centre-back Evan Ndicka, who collapsed during Roma’s match against Udinese last week, suffering chest pains which resulted in the game being suspended on 72 minutes. Thankfully, there was no cardiac problem, and the pain had been caused by a collapsed lung which Ndicka is receiving treatment for.

The 24-year-old is hopeful of returning within two weeks, but this game certainly comes too early for Ndicka, and Mancini will be joined again by Chris Slamming at centre-back.

Bologna search for more goals

Motta’s team has performed wonders this season and have, at times, scored freely, including a 3-0 win over Salernitana three weeks ago. But only Lazio of the top eight has scored fewer, and Bologna will be keen to avoid a third blank on the bounce.

With 10 league goals each, Joshua Zirkzee and Ricardo Orsolini have struck up a strong strike partnership and Zirkzee, in particular, has developed superbly, and he is now being tracked by Europe’s top clubs. The former Bayern Munich star signed for €8 million in 2022, and now he’s set to receive serious attention in the summer.

Italian star Orsolini, who can play as a winger or in an inverted position, has linked up well with Zirkzee, and the two will stretch Roma’s re-arranged defence on Monday.

History

The Romans have had much the better of the head-to-heads with 25 wins, 10 defeats and 13 draws, though the last time the two clubs met in Bologna in December, Motta’s team came out 2-0 winners.

Nikola Moro scored a first half opener before Rasmus Kristensen diverted a cross into his own net early in the second half to put more pressure on the soon to be departed Mourinho.

Roma have been very strong at the Stadio Olimpico this term, with 11 wins, three draws and two defeats, while Bologna have been tough to beat away from home, losing only three times on the road, winning four and drawing eight.

With four wins, one draw, and one defeat from their last six games, I Giallorossi have had better Serie A 2024 results than Bologna, who have picked up three wins, two draws, and a single defeat.