Lecce vs Bologna Preview: Team News & Prediction
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Following the appointment of new management, Lecce have pushed towards the middle-of-the-table ahead of facing top seven and European chasing Bologna for this weekend.
Kick-off date/time: Sunday 9th February, 2025: UK – 5:00pm / US ET – 12:00pm / US PT – 9:00am
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+
Lecce Preview: Low-scoring Lecce
Lecce come into this one on the back of an impressive come from behind 3-1 defeat of Parma at the Ennio Tardini in Emilio-Romagna last weekend. Nikola Krstovic equalised before winger Santiago Pierotti scored a second-half brace to steal all three points for the hosts.
They have been much-improved since the sacking of experienced coach Luca Gotti and the subsequent appointment of Marco Giampaolo. They begin this weekend’s round of fixtures sitting three points clear of the bottom three and the relegation places.
Bologna Preview: Difficult to defeat
Despite the departure of manager Thiago Motta to Juventus as well as key players such as Riccardo Calafiori and Joshua Zirkzee to Arsenal and Manchester United respectively, Bologna have remained very strong under the management of former Fiorentina boss Vincenzo Italiano.
With a game-in-hand, Bologna are currently tucked inside the top seven and the European spots once again. Their 1-0 defeat of Atalanta in the quarter-finals of the Coppa Italia in midweek means they have suffered just one defeat in their last 15 games in all competitions.
Lecce Team News: Key doubts
As well as having key doubts such as defender Kialonda Gaspar, midfield duo Hamza Rafia and Medon Berisha and forward Lameck Banda, Lecce have a couple of definite absentees such as Filip Marchwinski and Spanish midfielder Joan Gonzalez.
Predicted XI (4-3-3): Falcone; Guilbert, Baschirotto, Jean, Gallo; Helgason, Ramadani, Pierret; Pierotti, Krstovic, Karlsson
Unavailable: Marchwinski (Injured), Joan Gonzalez (Injured)
Questionable: Gaspar (Injured), Rafia (Injured), Berisha (Injured), Banda (Injured)
Bologna Team News: Ferguson out again
Scotland international midfielder Lewis Ferguson missed the first-half of the campaign due to an ACL injury and he is now unavailable due to a thigh issue, which is the same injury that both Jens Odgaard and Riccardo Orsolini are absent with.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Skorupski; De Silvestri, Beukema, Jhon Lucumi, Lykogiannis; Freuler, Moro; Ndoye, Fabbian, Dominguez; Dallinga
Unavailable: Ferguson (Injured), Odgaard (Injured), Orsolini (Injured)
Questionable:
Lecce vs Bologna Prediction
Lecce have scored just 18 goals in their 23 matches so far this season with a sixth of those goals coming in that aforementioned victory against Parma last weekend. They remain the only team to have reached 20 in the campaign. They face a Bologna side that are very difficult to beat with just three defeats in 22 Serie A matches so Lecce would need to attack even more if they are to get past a side that don’t lose to often so siding with Bologna is the way to go for this one in Apulia.
Lecce vs Bologna Tip: Bologna to win
