Napoli vs Bologna Match Analysis & Prediction
11/05/2024 7:00 pm
Serie A’s surprise package Bologna will travel to Stadio Diego Armando Maradona to face Napoli on Saturday knowing that one more win could confirm their place in next season’s Champions League.
While the Rossoblu are close to sealing a top-five finish, the hosts have won just one of their last eight league matches and may miss out on Europe altogether.
Denied an overdue victory by Udinese’s late equaliser on Monday, Napoli last tasted success at the very start of March, and the 2022-23 Italian champions are limping to the finish line this time around.
Victor Osimhen had put the Partenopei ahead shortly after halftime in Udine, but they let that lead slip during stoppage time, against a side scrapping for Serie A survival.
Just 12 months after the culmination of a superb Scudetto-winning campaign, Napoli sit eighth in the Serie A standings, five points adrift of a guaranteed place in UEFA competition for next season.
Napoli have taken just one point from their last four home matches, so despite winning eight of their last nine against Bologna at Stadio Maradona, recent form suggests continuing that trend will prove far from straightforward.
A goalless draw in September’s reverse fixture may have hinted at hoe the gap between these clubs could close this season, but few would have expected Bologna to be leading Napoli by 13 points with just three games remaining.
Sitting fourth in Serie A, and on track to claim a Champions League spot by virtue of a top-five finish, Thiago Motta’s side were held goalless again in last week’s game – a dull draw with Torino – yet they still sit above both Rome clubs and Atalanta BC.
Having built on the foundation of an excellent home record by winning four of their last six away matches – and drawing the others – Bologna can travel south confident of securing victory.
Winning in Naples would mean that if Roma fail to take at least a point from Sunday’s crucial encounter with Atalanta, Motta and co can officially celebrate their ascent to Europe’s top table.
Napoli vs. Bologna Head to head
In the previous 39 meetings between these two teams, Napoli have claimed 21 victories while Bologna have won 11, and they have drawn in seven. Bologna have scored 53 goals and conceded 81 in the process.
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28/10/2021Napoli3Bologna0Serie A
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17/01/2022Bologna0Napoli2Serie A
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16/10/2022Napoli3Bologna2Serie A
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28/05/2023Bologna2Napoli2Serie A
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24/09/2023Bologna0Napoli0Serie A
Napoli Team News
Although Giacomo Raspadori (ankle) and Piotr Zielinski (calf) are not expected to overcome the injuries that ruled them out of Napoli’s trip to Udine, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (thigh) could be back in action here.
If the latter is passed fit, he should replace Jesper Lindstrom in the front three, led by Osimhen and also featuring right-winger Matteo Politano.
Napoli's Last 5 Matches
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07/04/2024Monza2Napoli4Serie A
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14/04/2024Napoli2Frosinone2Serie A
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20/04/2024Empoli1Napoli0Serie A
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28/04/2024Napoli2Roma2Serie A
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06/05/2024Udinese1Napoli1Serie A
Bologna Team News
Joshua Zirkzee will spearhead the Bologna attack, most likely supported by AC Milan loanee Alexis Saelemaekers.
Rossoblu captain Lewis Ferguson has been sidelined for several months by an ACL rupture, while another long-term absentee, Adama Soumaoro, is yet to return from a similarly serious knee injury.
Bologna's Last 5 Matches
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07/04/2024Frosinone0Bologna0Serie A
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13/04/2024Bologna0Monza0Serie A
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22/04/2024Roma1Bologna3Serie A
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28/04/2024Bologna1Udinese1Serie A
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03/05/2024Torino0Bologna0Serie A
Napoli vs. Bologna: Odds and Predictions
Main Prediction
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