Bologna vs Empoli prediction: ITALY: Serie A betting tips on match 2024-08-30 16:30.
[p]Bologna failed to repeat last seasonâs emphatic win away to Napoli, instead crashing to a 3-0 defeat last time around as Napoli boss Antonio Conte celebrated his first league win in charge of the team. They ought not be too discouraged by the result on the basis of having won only one of their first six Serie A matches (D4, L1) on the way to finishing fifth last season, underlining that thereâs still plenty of time remaining to get their campaign back on track.[/p]
[p]Their next trilogy of Serie A matches could be crucial in setting a strong foundation, as Bologna will face two bottom-half finishers from last season (Empoli and Monza) as well as newly promoted Como. Theyâll soon have to deal with the physical challenges of the clubâs first ever league/group stage in any UEFA competition meaning that early league points will no doubt be vital in affording them room to breathe should they struggle to negotiate multiple battlefronts.[/p]
[p]Empoli ought not to be taken lightly after they defeated Roma 2-1 for a second consecutive time, nor should the visitors be getting ahead of themselves knowing that Roma were the only one of last seasonâs top seven finishers that they managed to beat across the entire Serie A season (D1, L12). Head coach Roberto DâAversa – who is still serving a four-match touchline ban for headbutting Verona striker Thomas Henry in March – may also be remembering how he couldnât see out the season despite beginning it with a five-game unbeaten run in charge of Lecce (W3, D2). [/p]
[p]His deputy Salvatore Sullo also refused to get carried away with winning at the Olimpico, affirming to the media that the clubâs âgoals are long-termâ, but considering that they lost 7-0 away to Roma last season, the early signs are certainly promising. Now the next litmus test is to see whether they can improve upon last seasonâs two Serie A losses to Bologna (3-0 away, 1-0 home) and perhaps even pick up their first league win âto nilâ in eight attempts along the way![/p]
[p]Players to watch: Bolognaâs first and only goal of this Serie A season came from Riccardo Orsolini, who recorded a hat-trick in this corresponding fixture of 2023/24. New Empoli recruit Lorenzo Colombo is now on a personal eight-game winning streak when scoring in Serie A. [/p]
[p]Hot stat: Empoli led at half-time in 11 of their last 13 Serie A victories. [/p]
[p][i]Written by Aaron Murphy[/i][/p]