The battle for the top 4 and survival in Serie A is heating up with each passing round and the game between Empoli and Bologna is uniquely entangled in both. Hosts Empoli are looking for the 3 points to barely stay above the survival zone. At the same time, guests Bologna have a pretty strong solid claim for Champions League weeknights next season that they would like to solidify.
Empoli Team News
A good run of form for Empoli was cut short with two consecutive 1-0 losses in their last 2 Serie A games. This ended the unbeaten streak of new coach Davide Nicola of 6 undefeated games since he took the helm. But the problems in Empoli’s game are still pretty much evident and have manifested again in their latest 2 defeats. In attack, the team often struggles and is the lowest-scoring team in the league so far with just 22 goals. Looking at the Azzurri’s last 5 home games, we can see that they failed to score in 3 of them, further attesting that finding goals is often troublesome for them. A bright spot for the team could be that in comparison to other clubs around their position, they have conceded noticeably less with 42 goals allowed. However, this positive is almost entirely negated by the attacking woes that Empoli often faces.
Bologna Team News
Despite a loss to league leaders Inter in the previous round, Bologna still has a solid claim for the top 4 and is entering the game with Empoli from the fourth position. The loss to Inter ended their 6 game-winning streak, but the team does look in good form. Away from home I Rossoblu are undefeated in their last 3 games and have managed to secure crucial wins against tough opposition such as Lazio and Atalanta while reaching a late draw with Milan. Despite that away games have been the Achilles heel for the team this season, as Bologna have reached a draw in 7 of their 13 away games in Serie A. Additionally, they have also conceded at least 1 goal in all of their last 5 league visits.
Head-to-Head-Games
Somewhat surprisingly, it is Empoli who has an advantage in the direct games. They have won 3 of the last 5 duels with Bologna, who have just 1 victory which came in the most recent fixture between these two. At home, Empoli have won all of their last 4 games against Bologna. In all of those, both teams managed to score.
| Rank | Teams | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goal difference | Points | Current form |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 | Empoli FC | 38 | 9 | 9 | 20 | -25 | 36 | LDLDW |
| Rank | Teams | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goal difference | Points | Current form |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | Bologna FC 1909 | 38 | 18 | 14 | 6 | 22 | 68 | DDWDL |
Empoli – Bologna Betting Prediction
Both teams need the 3 points and both will be looking to secure them. While Empoli has previously shown that they can get the job done, they are still the lowest-scoring team in Serie A and have displayed their attacking woes in their last 2 fixtures. Bologna’s winning streak might have been ended by Inter, but the team is in good form. Despite facing the majority of their issues away from home, their latest 3 away games have shown that they have character and can get results in tricky away fixtures. I also believe they have a stronger incentive than Empoli – top 4 and a first-ever Champions League qualification. And to keep the dream alive, the 3 points against Empoli are a must for Bologna. That is why my pick here would be for Bologna to win.
Betting Tip: Bologna To Win
Bookmaker: BC.Game
Odds: 2.11
BC.Game
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