Bologna VS Udinese Match Prediction
- 2017-04-30
- 13:00:00
Udinese will win this match.
Bologna have won just one of their last ten fixtures against Udinese - a 1-0 win away in February last year. Earlier this season, Danilo Larangeira's last-minute goal was enough to seal a Udinese win, after Erick Pulgar had been sent off for the visitors. Here are the results of the last five matches:
Dec 05, 2016: Udinese 1-0 Bologna
Feb 14, 2016: Udinese 0-1 Bologna
Sep 27, 2015: Bologna 1-2 Udinese
Feb 01, 2014: Bologna 0-2 Udinese
Sep 15, 2013: Udinese 1-1 Bologna
Udinese's good recent form and impressive record against Bologna just about gives them the edge for this fixture. Neither team has been particularly lethal in front of goal this season, so expect a single goal to win it.
Despite their poor form, Bologna are slight favourites with the bookmakers, with William Hill, Ladbrokes and Betfair all offering 7/5 on a home win. Udinese have a good record against Bologna, but are as high as 21/10 with William Hill and Ladbrokes, while the draw is 23/10 with Bet365 and Ladbrokes.
Both teams to score has been set at 3/4 for yes and evens for no with Bet365.
Reason: While Bologna have struggled to find the net at home, Udinese have hardly been prolific away from home either. Nevertheless, their recent form – and good record against Bologna – means they could be worth backing.
Bologna will be short in midfield against Udinese, with top scorer Blerim Dzemaili suspended after picking up ten yellow cards this season, and Erick Pulgar still banned after his red card against Palermo - his second of the season having also been sent off against Udinese. Simone Verdi, Juan Manuel Valencia, Luca Rizzo and Adam Nagy all add to Bologna’s midfield worries due to injury, while goalkeeper Antonio Mirante is also a doubt with a back injury. Defender Filip Helander should return from after his knee injury, however.
In the absence of top scorer Blerim Dzemaili, striker Mattia Destro needs to rediscover his goalscoring touch in front of goal.
Bologna's 3-2 defeat at Atalanta last weekend stretched their current winless run to four games - their last win was a 4-1 defeat of Chievo before the most recent international break. It did end a run of three games without a goal, however, after they failed to score in a draw at struggling Palermo and in defeats to Roma and at Fiorentina.
Goalkeeper:Da Costa
Defenders:M'Baye, Maietta, Helander, Masina
Midfielders:Taider, Viviani, Donsah
Forwards:Di Francesco, Festro, Krejci
Udinese have no new injury concerns, but remain without Seko Fofana, who broke his leg lats month, Samir, who is recovering from a knee operation, and Assane Gnoukouri who has a heart condition. Davide Faraoni is another long-term absentee with a knee injury. Udinese are unlikely to make any changes from their 2-1 win against Cagliari last weekend.
Striker Duvan Zapata has scored ten goals on loan from Napoli this season.
Udinese have lost just one of their last seven matches - a 3-0 reverse at Napoli in their most recent away fixture. A 2-1 win at home to Cagliari last time out means they are safely sat in mid-table.
Goalkeeper:Karnezis
Defenders:Widmer, Danilo, Angella, Felipe
Midfielders:Agyemang-Badu, Hallfredsson, Jankto
Forwards:De Paul, Zapata, Thereau