Bologna vs Fiorentina prediction: ITALY: Serie A betting tips on match 2022-09-10 13:00.
No win in the opening five Serie A (SA) matches prompted Bologna President Joey Saputo to take ‘the most difficult decision’ since taking the role – sacking popular coach Siniša Mihajlović, who became the first SA manager to lose his job this term. It can't, however, ruin the special bond Mihajlović created between fans and players thanks to the heartwarming fact he had not abandoned his squad during two periods in hospital when he was diagnosed with leukemia.
Former Genoa and Spezia coach Thiago Motta will take over the reins, and Motta is immediately tasked with ending I Rossoblù’s wait for their opening win. Perhaps ominously, the last time Bologna failed to secure a victory in their opening five SA matches in 2013/14, they were eventually relegated.
A 1-1 draw in Fiorentina’s last league outing against Juventus left their coach Vincenzo Italiano “angry and regretful at the same time”, with just an opening day win to their name this SA season (W1, D3, L1). His mood is unlikely to have lifted after another 1-1 draw on Thursday evening when Fiorentina failed to beat Latvian minnows RFS in the UEFA Europa Conference League (UECL), which served as a fifth stalemate across their last six competitive outings (L1).
Fiorentina are yet to score an away goal in all competitions this term (D2, L1), but this might perhaps be the ideal place to arrest that goalless run, as I Viola have netted six times across their last two visits to Stadio Renato Dall'Ara (W1, D1). They may also fancy their chances of sneaking a first away league victory of the season considering they are unbeaten in eight consecutive meetings here (W4, D4), although the prospect of another draw must be high.
Players to watch: Marko Arnautović tops the SA scoring chart after five rounds, scoring all five of Bologna’s league goals this season, with three arriving in the opening 40 minutes. Meanwhile, Antonín Barák opened his goal account for Fiorentina last time out, and has now netted the game opener in his last three goalscoring club appearances.
Hot stat: Motta has won his both previous competitive managerial debuts in Italy by a 3-1 scoreline.