Empolivs.Bologna

Despite beating last year's finalists Borussia Dortmund, the Rossoblu are still bound for an early exit from Europe, but they remain contenders for another top-five finish in Italy.

Match preview

Having suffered four defeats from their first six games, putting only two points on the board, Bologna finally tasted success on Tuesday night, when they struck twice in the second half to defeat Dortmund.

The Emilian club's first crack at UEFA's top competition since the mid-1960s had brought more misery than joy, but fringe players Thijs Dallinga and Samuel Iling-Junior both made the most of their opportunity after leaving the bench.

Their goals secured a 2-1 win at Stadio Dall'Ara, yet Bologna's slow start means they will still be eliminated when the league phase culminates next week.

That result also extended an unbeaten start to the year for Vincenzo Italiano's men, who ran out 3-1 winners against Monza in their most recent league fixture, keeping them seventh in the Serie A standings - just ahead of AC Milan and Roma.

A tally of 33 points from their first 20 matches is not only one more than at this stage last season - when they ultimately went on to finish fifth - but also represents a new club best since the turn of the century.

Furthermore, their 32 league goals are the most accrued at this point of a top-flight campaign for nearly 60 years, and Italiano has clearly built on the foundations laid by former coach Thiago Motta.

Before heading to Tuscany this weekend, the Rossoblu are also unbeaten in three games against Empoli, including a dramatic 1-0 win on their last trip to Stadio Castellani.

A 94th-minute gut-punch resulted in Empoli's sole loss to Bologna in 10 Serie A home fixtures, following five wins and four draws, so history is still very much on their side.

Recent form is certainly not, though, as the Azzurri have lost five of their last six league matches - as many defeats as they had suffered across the previous 19 - leaving them dangerously close to the drop zone.

Davide Nicola's men always had their work cut out to topple mighty Inter Milan last week, and despite in-form forward Sebastiano Esposito scoring against his parent club, they duly fell to a 3-1 defeat.

Previously, losing by the same scoreline to fellow strugglers Lecce continued their dismal home record this season: at the Castellani, Empoli have posted just one win and seven points so far.

Another setback on Saturday would see them record four consecutive home defeats for the first time in their Serie A history, so Nicola will be intent on stopping the rot.

Empoli Serie A form:

L

L

L

D

L

L

Bologna Serie A form:

W

W

L

D

D

W

Bologna form (all competitions):

W

L

D

D

W

W

Team News

Bologna will be without eight-goal winger Riccardo Orsolini due to a thigh injury, so Dan Ndoye, Benjamin Dominguez and several others are left to vie for the visitors' wide roles on Saturday.

Swiss midfielder Michel Aebischer is sidelined with a hernia problem, while Nicolo Cambiaghi is back in full training but is not set to return just yet.

Young striker Santiago Castro has registered 10 goal involvements this season, but Thijs Dallinga has recently pressed his claim to start up front instead, following a shaky start to life in Emilia-Romagna.

Empoli's attack is usually led by Sebastiano Esposito, who has racked up six goals in seven matches since the start of December - the most of any Serie A player over that period.

After starting his return to San Siro on the bench last weekend, he should reform a productive partnership with Lorenzo Colombo.

Once again, Tino Anjorin and Ola Solbakken both join long-term absentees Pietro Pellegri, Nicolas Haas, Saba Sazonov and Tyronne Ebuehi on the injury list.

Empoli possible starting lineup:

Vasquez; Goglichidze, Ismajli, Viti; Gyasi, Grassi, Maleh, Pezzella; Fazzini, Esposito; Colombo

Bologna possible starting lineup:

Skorupski; Holm, Lucumi, Beukema, Miranda; Pobega, Freuler; Ndoye, Odgaard, Dominguez; Castro

We say: Empoli 1-2 Bologna

While Bologna have lost just twice on their travels around Italy this season, Empoli are still awaiting their second league win at the Castellani.

Written by

Jonathan O'Shea

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