Hellas Verona
- The hosts are in desperate need of points in their battle for survival with 13 points on the board after 18 games, while Bologna are a more than respectable eighth with 27 points from 19 matches.
- The Gialloblu are on a run of 2 consecutive draws (2-2 away to Napoli, 0-0 at home to Lazio).
- Verona have also failed to take maximum points from their last 5 Serie A games (W1, D2, L2) and they have won just 1 of their 8 home matches in the league this campaign (W1, D3, L4).
Bologna
- Bologna have been winless in their last five (D2, L3), including a 1-1 draw away at Calcio Como and a 2-0 defeat at home to Atalanta.
- Vincenzo Italiano has his Rossoblù playing a more high-octane brand of football that is more in keeping with Italian football of the last five years.
- It’s a more assertive approach that is probably suited to their squad, but the visitors have hit a rough patch of late and could use a win here to get back on track.
- Bologna have scored an average of 1.50 goals per match on the road this campaign, but Verona are solid at the back and it may take the entire 90 minutes for the road team to find enough room to edge out the home side.
Head-to-Head
- Bologna have a good head-to-head record against Verona (W3, D1, L1 over the last 5 meetings) but the Gialloblu pulled off a shock 3-2 away win when the sides last met in Serie A 12 months ago.
- They have failed to win their last two home games against the Rossoblù and it is hard to see how they break this hoodoo on Thursday.
Key Players
- Gift Orban has been Verona’s talisman in Serie A this year with 5 goals in 15 appearances, netting 3 of the Gialloblu’s last 4.
- Riccardo Orsolini tops the Bologna scoring charts with 6 in 18 Serie A appearances and should be the most likely player to get on the scoresheet for the visiting side on Thursday.
Betting Insights
- Bologna F.C. enter Thursday’s away game as the bookmakers’ favorites at 2.22 for the clash with Hellas Verona, who are the outsiders at 3.72 ahead of the meeting of two clubs who have contrasting aims at opposite ends of the Serie A table.
- However, the bookmakers have the away side a shade too short as the favorites here in our opinion as Bologna have won just 3 of their 10 away games in Serie A, with 4 draws and 3 defeats.
- Backing the away team is the safest way to go in this clash of styles, but Verona will be tough to shake off and in the bet with better value, ‘Both Teams To Score’ at 1.92 appeals.
Prediction
Backing the away team is the safest way to go in this clash of styles, but Verona will be tough to shake off and in the bet with better value, ‘Both Teams To Score’ at 1.92 appeals.
