Bologna vs SPAL Predictions

Bologna may have drawn 1-1 in their opening Serie A game of the season, but the signs were impressive. The biggest positive for the Rossoblu was the appearance of manager Sinisa Mihajlovic, who revealed he has leukaemia over the summer, but he was in the dugout for their Serie A opener. The manager has committed to staying while fighting his illness having inspired the club to some impressive results in the back half of last term.

The hosts are clearly continuing on their path despite their manager’s health issues. He praised the team after their 1-1, with the underlying numbers suggesting that it was well deserved. The Rossoblu were able to record an xG of 2.11 in that trip, suggesting they had at least enough good chances to score twice. Meanwhile, their xG against was 0.11, so they are also defending well. Keep that up over the course of the season and it’ll likely be a strong year at the Dall’Aara.

SPAL were able to outdo their own xG tally by scoring twice, but they lost 3-2 at home to Atalanta. That defeat added to their poor form in Serie A, which has seen them lose their last four matches. During that time SPAL have conceded 11 goals, while they’ve let in three in each of their last three games at this level. There were some positive signs for them last term, but as a side who tend to operate in bursts of form, this is a serious problem.

When you’ve lost four straight league games, the ideal game is to head to a side who are struggling themselves. You want a fellow struggler, a team who can’t piece a run together. Bologna are in fine form going into this weekend’s clash. The hosts had won just two of their 12 home clashes by the end of February, but then their form changed.

Since then, Bologna have won seven straight home games. They have scored at least twice in each, while their previous five have seen them score at least three per game. They’ve hit 16 across those five, with Mihajlovic inspiring some great attacking displays. With the club starting in the same manner this term, goals seem likely here. SPAL conceded twice or more in 11 of their 19 away trips last season, losing eight out of their trips to top 10 sides. We see more problems for them against a strong Bologna outfit, so we’re backing over 1.5 goals for the hosts.