Can Bologna finally end their scoring drought? Bologna vs Sassuolo prediction - 06.09.2026
On Sunday, September 6, Bologna will host Sassuolo at the Stadio Renato Dall'Ara in Matchday 3 of the 2026/27 Serie A season. Domenico Tedesco's side are still searching for both their first point and first goal of the campaign, while Sassuolo have already picked up three points and arrive in Bologna after progressing in the Coppa Italia. Kick-off is scheduled for 18:00 local time.
Bologna: the results have been worse than the performances
Bologna could hardly have imagined a more frustrating start to the new season. The Rossoblù first lost 1-0 at home to Lazio before suffering another 1-0 defeat away to Atalanta. The second loss was particularly painful: Bologna stayed in the contest until the very end, only for Lazar Samardžić to score the winner in the 96th minute. Tedesco's team therefore enter Matchday 3 with zero points and zero goals after 180 minutes of Serie A football.
There have nevertheless been encouraging signs. Bologna created opportunities in Bergamo through Nicolò Cambiaghi, Federico Bernardeschi and Roberto Piccoli and showed they can remain competitive against one of the league's strongest sides. The main problem is obvious: the final action has lacked precision, and the attacking unit is still adapting after several summer changes.
The situation is complicated by the absence of Riccardo Orsolini. Bologna confirmed that the winger suffered a problem with the flexor muscles in his left thigh against Atalanta, and he is expected to miss the Sassuolo game. Oussama El Azzouzi is also unavailable, while Nicolò Casale's condition remains a question mark. Arthur Theate, who recently returned to Bologna on loan from Eintracht Frankfurt, gives Tedesco another option in central defence.
Without Orsolini, Federico Bernardeschi is expected to play a bigger role in the attacking line, with Jens Odgaard and Cambiaghi supporting Piccoli. Artem Dovbyk remains another important option from the bench.
Sassuolo: Aquilani's team are creating chances
Sassuolo's start has been more encouraging despite also opening the campaign with a defeat. Alberto Aquilani's side lost 2-1 away to Atalanta, but the performance was much better than the scoreline suggested. Aquilani highlighted the fact that his team managed 25 attempts in Bergamo, while Cas Odenthal scored the temporary equaliser before an individual defensive mistake allowed Atalanta to regain the lead.
The response came immediately. Sassuolo defeated Torino 2-1 in their next league fixture, with Cristian Volpato opening the scoring before Domenico Berardi came off the bench and struck the winner. The Neroverdi produced 19 attempts and seven shots on target in that game, showing much greater attacking confidence.
Aquilani's team then advanced in the Coppa Italia on September 2. A heavily rotated Sassuolo drew 1-1 with Frosinone before winning the penalty shootout 4-3. Benjamin Domínguez scored in normal time, while Berardi, Sebastiano Esposito, Kristian Thorstvedt and Darryl Bakola all converted their penalties. Sassuolo have therefore scored in each of their first three competitive matches of the season, although they have also conceded in all three.
There are still personnel problems. Sebastian Walukiewicz, Daniel Boloca, Ismaël Koné, Fali Candé and Edoardo Pieragnolo are among the players currently unavailable or being assessed, while there are no suspensions for either team.
Probable lineups
- Bologna: Skorupski; Holm, Helland, Heggem, Miranda; Moro, Ferguson; Bernardeschi, Odgaard, Cambiaghi; Piccoli.
- Sassuolo: Muric; Cinquegrano, Idzes, Leysen, Doig; Bakola, Matic, Adzic; Volpato, Bowie, Laurienté.
Match facts and head-to-head
- Bologna have failed to score in both of their Serie A matches this season.
- Sassuolo have scored in all three of their competitive games this season.
- Bologna are unbeaten in their last five meetings with Sassuolo, recording two wins and three draws.
- Four of the last five head-to-head meetings produced no more than two goals.
- Last season, Bologna drew 1-1 with Sassuolo at home before winning 1-0 away.
Pressure on Bologna should make this derby more tactical
Bologna cannot afford another empty result, but that does not necessarily mean Tedesco will send his team forward recklessly. Two consecutive 1-0 defeats have underlined their problems in the final third, and losing Orsolini removes one of their most reliable sources of creativity and goals.
Sassuolo have looked more dangerous going forward, particularly through Laurienté, Volpato and Berardi, but Aquilani's side should also respect a Bologna team that has remained competitive defensively despite losing twice. The recent history of this fixture points in the same direction: four of the last five meetings stayed below three total goals.
With Bologna under pressure, Sassuolo likely to remain patient away from home and neither side having much reason to turn the derby into an end-to-end contest, another relatively controlled game looks the most plausible scenario.
Prediction: Under 2.5 goals.
