Milan thrashing — just the beginning? Bologna vs Monza prediction
On October 31, Bologna will host Monza at the Renato Dall'Ara Stadium in the tenth round of the Italian Serie A. The hosts head into the clash on the back of a sensational win over Milan and will be looking to move into the top half of the table. The visitors sit 16th and are at risk of slipping into the relegation zone, despite being fairly productive in attack.
Bologna: Palladino's team has hit an impressive run of form
Since Raffaele Palladino's appointment in September, Bologna have noticeably raised their level. The team has collected nine points from its last four league matches, beating Lecce (2-1), Cagliari (2-0) and Milan (4-2). The victory at San Siro was particularly eye-catching. Samuel Mbangula scored a hat-trick to end Milan's unbeaten run in the league. That result lifted the Rossoblu to 11th place.
There is, however, an interesting detail: all three of Bologna's wins under Palladino have come away from home. The only home match under the new manager ended in a 3-1 defeat to Inter. The injury list remains a concern. Riccardo Orsolini, Emil Holm and Roberto Piccoli are injured, while Lorenzo De Silvestri and Jay Enema are doubts. Juan Miranda, meanwhile, remains an important creative force, having already provided four assists.
Monza: A potent attack cannot prevent defeats
Ivan Juric's side continue to hover above the relegation zone. A 4-0 win over Cagliari was followed by defeats to Torino (2-3) and Napoli (1-4). Monza currently sit 16th, just two points ahead of Parma. The visitors' main problem is their defense. They have conceded 22 goals in nine rounds, the most in Serie A. Even a respectable attacking output cannot make up for the defenders' constant mistakes.
At the same time, Monza's attack is capable of causing problems for any opponent. The team has scored 16 goals, while Gustavo Varela's eight strikes have put him in contention for the Serie A Golden Boot. For the upcoming clash, Juric will be without Jan Zulkowski and Matteo Pessina. Michael Folorunsho and Ivan Maie, however, could return to the matchday squad.
Match facts and head-to-head record
- Bologna have won three of their last four league matches
- Monza have conceded 22 goals in nine rounds — the worst record in Serie A
- Gustavo Varela has scored eight goals in the current Italian championship
Will the hosts' winning run continue? Bologna vs Monza prediction
Bologna are riding a wave of emotion after their historic victory over Milan. Palladino's team have grown more confident in attack and are consistently exploiting their opponents' weaknesses. The next challenge is to carry that impressive away form onto their home turf.
Monza will surely create a few dangerous chances through Varela, but their defensive problems are simply too serious. Against a Bologna side in full stride, an open game could lead to another defeat. We expect an entertaining, high-scoring encounter with the hosts holding the edge. Bologna should take advantage of their opponents' defensive frailties and secure their first home win under Palladino.
