Bolognavs.Venezia

The Rossoblu sit near the foot of the Champions League standings after losing to Lille, while their visitors occupy last place in Serie A.

Match preview

Seeking their first points since the opening matchday, Bologna welcomed a Lille side that had previously beaten both Madrid clubs to Stadio Dall'Ara on Wednesday, still without a single goal in their maiden Champions League campaign.

Although Colombian centre-back Jhon Lucumi wrote his name in club history by scoring, his close-range finish was sandwiched by a pair of strikes from Ngal'ayel Mukau, leaving the Rossoblu 33rd in the 36-team standings after a 2-1 defeat.

The Rossoblu also lost away to Lazio last week, when they went down to 10 men following the first-half dismissal of Tommaso Pobega; the hosts' three goals all came during the second half, as Bologna's legs began to tire.

There had been signs of progress just before the last international break, as the Emilian club posted three successive Serie A wins, but they now sit eighth, having won just four of 17 games across all competitions.

Nonetheless, Bologna are one of only four teams - along with Lazio, Fiorentina and Juventus - not to have lost a home fixture in the league this season, having drawn four and won the other.

In their second of three straight games at the Dall'Ara - they host Monza in the Coppa Italia next week - head coach Vincenzo Italiano will hope to boost a meagre tally of five goals from eight home matches so far.

Venezia were also beaten on home turf earlier this week, when Serie A's rock-bottom club lost to Lecce, who were situated just two places and one point above them.

Though the Lagunari dominated both possession and the shot count, it was their southern rivals that scored the game's only goal after 70 minutes, meaning more misery for fans at Stadio Pier Luigi Penzo.

Eusebio Di Francesco's youthful squad - he has used more different players born this century than any other Serie A coach this season (16) - have shown naivety by dropping some 14 points from winning positions since returning to the top flight.

As a result, Venezia have still won just twice across all competitions, and - along with Roma - are one of two teams yet to take maximum points on the road.

In fact, stretching back to their last stay at Italy's elite level, over two decades ago, the Arancioneroverdi are winless in 14 Serie A away matches, of which they have lost 11.

Bologna Serie A form:

D

D

W

W

W

L

Bologna form (all competitions):

W

W

L

W

L

L

Venezia Serie A form:

L

D

W

L

L

L

Team News

Vincenzo Italiano could make changes to his lineup following Wednesday's defeat, with Santiago Castro likely to come in for Thijs Dallinga up front.

Both Castro and Jens Odgaard have scored twice from outside the box this season, and they could join Dan Ndoye and Riccardo Orsolini in the final third. Recently returned from an ACL injury, Scottish midfielder Lewis Ferguson played the full 90 minutes in midweek and may now be rested.

Long-term absentees Nicolo Cambiaghi and Oussama El Azzouzi again join Michel Aebischer on the sidelines, and Tommaso Pobega must serve a suspension.

Meanwhile, Venezia will head for Emilia-Romagna with an almost full squad: only Francesco Zampano is ruled out after fracturing his left hand on Monday.

Eusebio Di Francesco is therefore expected to stick with a front line featuring Gianluca Busio and Gaetano Oristanio in support of Finnish striker Joel Pohjanpalo.

Former Inter Milan forward Oristanio - who has made the most successful dribbles in Serie A this season (28) - has played a part in three goals across his last seven outings, which is as many as throughout the previous 31.

Bologna possible starting lineup:

Skorupski; Posch, Beukema, Lucumi, Miranda; Freuler, Moro; Orsolini, Fabbian, Karlsson; Castro

Venezia possible starting lineup:

Stankovic; Idzes, Svoboda, Sverko; Ellertsson, Duncan, Nicolussi Caviglia, Haps; Busio, Oristanio; Pohjanpalo

We say: Bologna 1-0 Venezia

Both in the bottom half of the rankings for attacking output, these low-scoring sides may ultimately be separated by a single goal.

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