Verdict: Under 2.5 goals

Best Odds: 4/5

Bookmaker: Dachbet

Two sides who are looking to break into the European spots this weekend, Lazio will travel to the Stadio Renato Dall’Ara on Friday night when they meet Bologna.

Bologna

Starting with the hosts, shocking many across Serie A last season as they secured a top-half finish, Bologna have once again impressed this time around. Extending on their Coppa Italia adventure earlier in the week as they secured a deserved 2-0 victory against Verona, Thiago Motta’s side should find the mood in their camp at a real high. Opening up Friday’s showdown at the Stadio Renato Dall’Ara sat just two points adrift of breaking into the European spots, the Greyhounds will be looking to make a heavyweight statement here. Although Bologna might have been forced to settle for a single point in five of their last seven Serie A appearances, the former Spezia boss has also seen his squad gain a reputation for their continued success on home soil. Including their midweek Coppa Italia victory against Verona, Motta’s men have won each of their previous three domestic home fixtures by an aggregate score of 7-1.

Team News

Dealing with a long-term knee injury and yet to make a single Serie A appearance so far this season, Bologna will once again be without the services of 31-year-old Adama Soumaoro. Likewise, the Greyhounds are also unable to call upon former Genk star John Lucumi on Friday night.

Handed a full rest while on Coppa Italia duties earlier in the week, ex-Bayern Munich starlet Joshua Zirkee will spearhead Bologna’s charge here. Opening his account against Frosinone last month, Scotland international Lewis Ferguson will join Zirkee in the final third.

Lazio

As for the visitors, making an immediate return to winning ways earlier in the week as they clinched a last-gasp 1-0 victory at home against Fiorentina, Lazio will be desperate to use that performance as a platform to build on. Although the Eagles might have suffered Champions League frustration away at Dutch giants on October 25th as they eventually slumped to a 3-1 loss, Maurizio Sarri’s side have largely impressed on either side of October’s international break. Shocking many across Serie A last season as they secured a silver medal finish among Italy’s elite, the former Chelsea boss has seen his squad win four of their previous five appearances across all competitions. Desperate to break back into the top-six on Friday night, Lazio have also lost just a pair of their last nine outings. With that run stemming back to a 3-1 loss at the hands of Juventus on September 16th, Sarri’s side will arrive at the Stadio Renato Dall’Ara confident of making another Serie A statement.

Team News

Missing out on Monday night after dealing with a recent knock, Sarri’s side are once again sweating over the fitness of 25-year-old Nicolo Casale. Not making a single domestic start since the middle of September, summer recruit Daichi Kamada will be hoping for a full recall here.

Bagging a last-gasp winner against Fiorentina earlier in the week and notching his first Serie A strike since back on September 23rd, attacking talisman Ciro Immobile will spearhead Lazio’s charge at the Stadio Renato Dall’Ara.

Key Factors to Consider

• When Bologna and Lazio last met back on March 11th, Friday’s opponents played out a 0-0 stalemate at the Stadio Renato Dall’Ara.
• The Eagles have won four of their previous five appearances across all competitions.
• Bologna have played out a stalemate in five of their previous seven Serie A appearances.
• The Greyhounds have kept a clean sheet in three of their last four home fixtures across all competitions.
• Only one of the last six meetings between Bologna and Lazio has seen both teams get on the scoresheet.

Conclusion

Making what was an immediate return to winning ways earlier in the week as they secured a last-gasp 1-0 victory at home against Fiorentina, Lazio are desperate to break back into the top-six here. However, although the Eagles might have won four of their previous five appearances across all formats, they could face another stern test on Friday night. With Bologna extending on their Coppa Italia adventure in midweek as they claimed a 2-0 win against Verona, the Greyhounds have certainly gained a reputation for their success on home soil. With the two sides playing out a 0-0 stalemate when they last met back on March 11th, we could be set for another low-scoring showdown here.

Verdict: Under 2.5 goals

Best Odds: 4/5

Bookmaker: Dachbet