Bologna vs Lecce Match Analysis and Prediction

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Bologna and Lecce go head to head at Stadio Renato Dall’Ara on Sunday, with both teams sitting just outside the Serie A relegation zone after the first 10 rounds.

The sides are separated by just one point in the league table, with the visitors holding the upper hand, having lost only once in their last five games.

Since stepping into the Dall’Ara dugout to succeed Sinisa Mihajlovic last month, new Bologna manager Thiago Motta has steered his side to just one point from four league matches.

Bologna have only claimed one victory in 10 Serie A matches this season, defeating Fiorentina 2-1 back in September, and they last failed to win at least twice by this stage some 19 years ago.

However, last week’s 3-2 defeat at leaders Napoli showed a certain amount of spirit, before progressing in the Coppa Italia by defeating second-tier Cagliari provided a rare taste of success.

While Lecce arrive in Emilia-Romagna marginally ahead of their hosts in the standings, they have been by far the inferior side in meetings with Bologna over recent years.

Marco Baroni’s side have won just one of the clubs’ last 13 meetings, losing both times when they last met in the top flight during the 2019-20 campaign. Lecce’s last league win at Dall’Ara came back in 2011, so precednt is certainly not on their side on Sunday.

However, the Giallorossi have adapted to life among Italy’s elite fairly well, as since earning promotion as Serie B champions they have won one and drawn five of their 10 league matches.

No team have drawn more matches than Lecce this season, and they registered their third in the last five when holding Fiorentina at Stadio Via del Mare on Monday. As a result, they have lost just once on home soil this season.

Bologna vs Lecce head to head

These two teams have previously met on 24 occasions across two occasions, where Bologna have claimed 11 victories while Lecce have won three, and they have drawn in 10. Lecce have scored 21 goals and conceded 32. In their last five meetings, Lecce have won one, Bologna three with one draw.

Lecce 0-1 Bologna 13/03/11

Bologna 0-2 Lecce 18/09/11

Lecce 0-0 Bologna 05/02/12

Lecce 2-3 Bologna 22/12/19

Bologna 3-2 Lecce 26/07/20

Bologna latest home form

Bologna have recently been on a relatively good run of form at home, having lost just one of their seven most recent matches. They managed to defeat Cagliari 1-0 in their last home game in the Coppa Italia. In their last five matches, they have scored five goals and conceded four.

Bologna 1-1 Salernitana 01/09/22

Bologna 2-1 Fiorentina 11/09/22

Bologna 0-1 Empoli 17/09/22

Bologna 1-1 Sampdoria 08/10/22

Bologna 1-0 Cagliari 20/10/22

Bologna latest away form

Bologna have recently failed to keep a good run of form on the road, having been winless in their seven most recent matches. They were beaten 3-2 by Napoli in their last away game in the league. In their last five matches, they have scored five goals and conceded 12.

Lazio 2-1 Bologna 14/08/22

AC Milan 2-0 Bologna 27/08/22

Spezia 2-2 Bologna 04/09/22

Juventus 3-0 Bologna 02/10/22

Napoli 3-2 Bologna 16/10/22

Lecce latest home form

Lecce have recently been on a relatively good run of form at home, having been unbeaten in their four most recent matches. They played out a 1-1 draw with Fiorentina in their last home game in the league. In their last five matches, they have scored five goals and conceded six.

Lecce 1-2 Inter Milan 13/08/22

Lecce 1-1 Empoli 28/08/22

Lecce 1-1 Monza 11/09/22

Lecce 1-1 Cremonese 02/10/22

Lecce 1-1 Fiorentina 17/10/22

Lecce latest away form

Lecce have recently failed to keep a good run of form on the road, having won just one of their six most recent matches. They lost 2-1 to Roma in their last away game in the league. In their last five matches, they have scored four goals and conceded six.

Sassuolo 1-0 Lecce 20/08/22

Napoli 1-1 Lecce 31/08/22

Torino 1-0 Lecce 05/09/22

Salernitana 1-2 Lecce 16/09/22

Roma 2-1 Lecce 09/10/22

Bologna news

Thiago Motta will revert to a more familiar lineup on Sunday, as the likes of Nicolas Dominguez and top scorer Marko Arnautovic come into the starting lineup.

Denso Kasius will remain sidelined for this game, so Lorenzo De Silvestri and Stefan Posch battle it out to take the right-back slot.

Lecce news

Gabriel Strefezza has been more successful in the final third and starts in Marco Baroni’s front three once again, with four goals to his name this season.

Antonio Gallo was dismissed late on in last week’s draw with Fiorentina, with Giuseppe Pezzella set to deputise, while Morten Hjulmand returns from a ban.

Prediction and Odds

Bouyed by a rare victory in midweek and Arnautovic’s return, Bologna can grind out a crucial home win against a Lecce side which has been less effective on the road.

The visitor will be encouraged by their draw with Fiorentina last time out, but we feel they will fall just short here.

Odds: 1 2.23 X 2.05 2 3.01