Fiorentina vs Bologna Preview: Team News & Prediction
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It is the Vincenzo Italiano derby at the Artemio Franchi as a frustrated and disappointed Fiorentina side take on a Bologna side that ended their 60-year trophy drought in midweek.
Kick-off date/time:
How to watch on TV: UK – Not televised / US – Select matches will be televised on CBS Sports so it is worth checking their schedule
How to watch online: UK – OneFootball / US – Paramount+
Fiorentina preview: Palladino’s Fiorentina
In the last couple of seasons, Vincenzo Italiano lost three finals with Fiorentina with two UEFA Europa Conference League defeats to both West Ham United and Olympiakos, as well as a loss to Internazionale in the final of the Coppa Italia.
Monza boss Raffaele Palladino took charge of I Viola last summer and they have been strong for a lot of this season, even reaching the semi-finals of the UEFA Europa Conference League, but their form is drifting as they still fight for a top seven spot and European qualification.
Bologna preview: Italiano’s Bologna
Italiano put those finals behind him in midweek as his Bologna side defeated AC Milan by a goal to nil at the Stadio Olimpico in the final of the Coppa Italia the other day with Switzerland international attacker Dan Ndoye notching a 53rd minute winner for Bologna.
The visitors have been brilliant throughout this campaign as they chase a top four finish and potential UEFA Champions League qualification in Serie A but they have managed just one victory in their last six matches in the league.
Fiorentina team news: Several suspensions
Fiorentina are dealing with several suspension issues for this one with Italy international duo Michael Folorunsho and Nicolo Zaniolo sidelined alongside Lucas Beltran. They also have key injury doubts, too, such as forwards Albert Gudmundsson and Moise Kean.
Predicted XI (3-4-2-1): David de Gea; Pongracic, Pablo Mari, Ranieri; Dodo, Mandragora, Fagioli, Gosens; Richardson, Ndour; Adli
Unavailable: Folorunsho (Suspended), Bove (Illness), Beltran (Suspended), Zaniolo (Suspended)
Questionable: Cataldi (Injured), Gudmundsson (Injured), Kean (Injured)
Bologna team news: Nothing fresh
Ahead of the trip to Florence this weekend, Bologna have no fresh injury concerns or suspension issues so they will be able to name an unchanged eleven with both Martin Erlic and Estanis Pedrola remaining unavailable for the visitors.
Predicted XI (4-3-3): Skorupski; De Silvestri, Beukema, Jhon Lucumi, Juan Miranda; Freuler, Ferguson, Pobega; Orsolini, Dallinga, Dominguez
Unavailable: Erlic (Injured), Pedrola (Injured)
Questionable:
Fiorentina vs Bologna prediction
Fiorentina may actually want to avoid a fourth successive season in the UEFA Europa Conference League so they can fully focus on Serie A football next year and the amount of absentees and potential absentees for them may help them in their cause. Bologna winning the cup in midweek could see them collapse or simply propel them forward to a top four finish this season and, up against a Fiorentina side that appear to have checked out after their 2-1 loss to relegation-battling Venezia last weekend, siding with Bologna would be the way to go for this one.
Fiorentina vs Bologna tip: Double chance – Bologna to win or draw
