Bologna vs Empoli Preview & Prediction | 2023-24 Italian Serie A
THE FACTS
Click here for today’s sports betting tips from our expert analysts!
When is Bologna vs Empoli on and what time does it start? Bologna vs Empoli will take place on Sunday 1st October, 2023 – 11:30 (UK)
Where can I get tickets for Bologna vs Empoli? Visit each club’s official website for the latest ticket information
What TV channel is Bologna vs Empoli on in the UK? TNT Sports have the rights to Serie A matches in the UK, so it is worth checking their schedule for Bologna vs Empoli
Where can I stream Bologna vs Empoli in the UK? If Bologna vs Empoli is televised on TNT Sports, then subscribers can stream the match live on discovery+
THE LOWDOWN
BOLOGNA
Following the appointment of Thiago Motta in the early stages of last season, the innovative coach put into place some impressive and cohesive attacking patterns of play as they launched themselves towards the top-half of the table. Despite losing the likes of Marko Arnautovic and Nicolas Dominguez over the summer, they will be hoping to build upon that once again.
They began the season with a defeat at home to an impressive AC Milan side but have since gone unbeaten, albeit five of their subsequent matches have ended in a draw. The hosts’ most recent outing was a goalless draw away to Monza in which they were the better side in that but couldn’t get past the opposition.
EMPOLI
After gaining promotion back to the Italian top-flight in 2021, Empoli lost their manager Alessio Dionisi to Sassuolo but comfortably secured Serie A status in both subsequent seasons. Firstly under the management of Aurelio Andreazzoli and then under Paolo Zanetti but the latter is now under pressure in charge of the Florence-based club.
Empoli begin this weekend’s round of fixtures sitting rock-bottom in the Serie A table after suffering five successive defeats without scoring to kick start the campaign. A much-improved performance at home to Inter, though, where they only lost by a goal to nil was followed by their much-needed first points of the season in midweek, defeating Salernitana by a goal to nil.
THE TEAM NEWS
BOLOGNA
Bologna will be without the likes of defensive duo Jhon Lucumi and Stefan Posch, as well as Alexis Saelemaekers who was sent off in that goalless draw with Monza.
PREDICTED XI (4-2-3-1): Skorupski; De Silvestri, Beukema, Calafiori, Lykogiannis; Aebischer, El Azzouzi; Orsolini, Ferguson, Karlsson; Zirkzee
UNAVAILABLE: Saelemaekers (Suspended), Lucumi (Injured), Posch (Injured), Soumaoro (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE:
EMPOLI
Empoli remain without summer signings Elia Caprile and Daniel Maldini due to injury and they are also without key forward Francesco Caputo due to an injury.
PREDICTED XI (3-4-2-1): Berisha; Bereszynski, Walukiewicz, Luperto, Pezzella; Fazzini, Grassi, Maleh; Baldanzi, Cancellieri; Shpendi
UNAVAILABLE: Ismajli (Injured), Caputo (Injured), Caprile (Injured), Maldini (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE:
THE PREDICTION
Neither of these two sides will be overly impressed by their starts to the season but there are reasons to be positive. Bologna have suffered just one defeat this season despite having already taken on the likes of Milan, Juventus and Napoli. They have won as many games as an Empoli side that remain in crisis with their slender win against fellow strugglers hardly much to shout about for long-term. It will be difficult to see Empoli joining AC Milan on the list of Bologna’s slayers so far this season.
TIP: DOUBLE CHANCE - BOLOGNA TO WIN OR DRAW
