Continuing their quest for another top-six finish, Bologna will visit Serie A strugglers Hellas Verona on Sunday.
The Rossoblu head for Stadio Bentegodi following back-to-back wins, while their hosts have recently lost three from four and are still threatened by relegation.
Match preview
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One week after conquering European contenders Fiorentina with a stoppage-time winner, Verona were brought back down to earth by Juventus when the pair met on Monday evening.
Hellas coach Paolo Zanetti, who was serving a touchline ban, could only look on from the stands in frustration as his team conceded twice in the last 20 minutes to suffer defeat in Turin.
As a result of another failure up front, the Gialloblu have scored only three times in their last nine Serie A matches, recording just two wins in the process; yet, they are still four points clear of the drop zone.
Zanetti’s men now aim to win consecutive home games for the first time in the league this season, and Verona’s recent record against their next visitors suggests that could be achievable.
Unbeaten in five meetings at the Bentegodi, dating back to 2017, they will look to follow up December’s dramatic 3-2 away win and do the double over Bologna for the first time in Serie A.
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By contrast with their hosts, Bologna are enjoying the transition to spring, as they recently ended a long winless run against AC Milan and then produced a spirited comeback to beat Cagliari.
Trailing to the Sardinian side at half time, they struck back with a Riccardo Orsolini brace before the hour mark and held on to claim victory – their fourth in six league matches.
Demonstrating great resilience under Vincenzo Italiano, the Rossoblu have salvaged more points from losing positions than any other Serie A team this term: a tally of 16 is as many as they managed throughout the whole of last season.
Italiano – a former Verona player – has built on the foundations laid by Thiago Motta and some smooth off-field operations to keep Bologna among Calcio’s big boys, and they are again in the mix for European qualification.
His side have scored 42 goals so far – the club’s best tally at this stage since 1997 – and they will now aim to rack up more against the top flight’s leakiest defence.
However, Bologna have won only one of their last seven Serie A fixtures on the road – and none since December – while failing to score in both of the last two. So, nothing can be taken for granted.
Team News
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After returning from a month-long layoff to take a place on the bench last time out, Verona’s top scorer Casper Tengstedt could be ready to start on Sunday.
Dailon Livramento would most likely make way for the Benfica-owned striker, as the hosts aim to boost their failing attack.
Fellow forward Tomas Suslov has certainly been trying, having played a part in more goal attempts without scoring than any other Serie A player (53 – 29 shots and 24 chances created). He also had a strike ruled out by the VAR for offside on Monday.
Once again, Hellas are without Suat Serdar, Martin Frese, Daniel Mosquera and Abdou Harroui due to injury, while Bologna are only missing Emil Holm and Remo Freuler.
The latter must serve a suspension for accumulated bookings, so either Lewis Ferguson or Nikola Moro should slot into central midfield.
In attack, Santiago Castro will try to make amends for his decisive own goal in December’s reverse fixture; Riccardo Orsolini needs one more strike to hit double figures in Serie A for a third season.
Hellas Verona possible starting lineup:
Montipo; Dawidowicz, Coppola, Valentini; Faraoni, Niasse, Duda, Tchatchoua; Suslov; Tengstedt, Sarr
Bologna possible starting lineup:
Skorupski; De Silvestri, Beukema, Lucumi, Miranda; Moro, Pobega; Orsolini, Odgaard, Ndoye; Castro
We say: Hellas Verona 0-1 Bologna
Only Roma have scored more Serie A goals than Bologna in 2025, while Verona have recorded the fewest – just three in nine games since the turn of the year.
With momentum on their side, the away side can end their winless streak at Stadio Bentegodi and stay ahead of several challengers in the race for European places.
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