Bologna vs Udinese Predictions

Bologna vs Udinese predictions, betting tips and match previews for their Serie A fixture. After a summer of changes, Champions League-bound Bologna begin their 2024-25 campaign on Sunday, hosting Udinese at Stadio Dall’Ara for their season opener. Read on for our free match preview and betting tips.

Serie A | Aug 18, 2024 at 5.30pm UK at Stadio Renato Dall’Ara

Bologna vs Udinese Predictions

Will Bologna’s New Era Start with a Solid Display Against Udinese?

• Bologna kept 17 clean sheets in Serie A last season, underlining their defensive capabilities.
• Udinese drew 19 of their 38 league games last season, the highest in Europe’s top five leagues.
• Bologna have won just two of their last 14 Serie A opening matches, indicating a tendency for cautious starts.

Best Bet

The 2024-25 Serie A season kicks off with an intriguing encounter as Bologna welcome Udinese to Stadio Dall’Ara on Sunday. Both teams experienced vastly different fortunes last season, with Bologna securing a historic Champions League qualification while Udinese barely avoided relegation. This match offers both sides a chance to set the tone for their respective campaigns under new management.

Given the context of this fixture and the recent changes within both squads, the best bet for this match is likely to be under 2.5 goals. Bologna, despite their impressive achievements last season, have undergone significant changes, including the departure of key figures like manager Thiago Motta and top scorer Joshua Zirkzee. Their new manager, Vincenzo Italiano, is known for his tactical discipline, which could lead to a cautious approach in his first competitive match in charge.

Bologna’s pre-season form suggests a solid, if unspectacular, start to the campaign. They have been defensively sound, keeping clean sheets in most of their warm-up matches, but their attacking output has not been prolific. The arrival of Thijs Dallinga from Toulouse adds some firepower, but integrating him into the team might take time, especially against a well-drilled Udinese side.

Udinese, on the other hand, were one of the lowest-scoring teams in Serie A last season, averaging just one goal per game. Despite the arrival of new manager Kosta Runjaic and the addition of Alexis Sanchez, their attacking options remain limited, particularly with the fitness concerns surrounding key players like Lorenzo Lucca. Udinese’s focus will likely be on defensive solidity, as they aim to grind out results and avoid the struggles of the previous season.

Both teams are likely to approach this match with caution, prioritising defensive organisation over expansive attacking play. Given the circumstances, a low-scoring affair seems the most probable outcome, making under 2.5 goals a strong bet for this encounter.

Both Teams to Score Prediction

Another prediction that aligns well with the expected dynamics of this match is that both teams will not score. As previously mentioned, Bologna’s pre-season has been characterised by defensive strength, and with Udinese’s well-documented struggles in front of goal last season, it’s hard to see both teams finding the back of the net in this contest.

Bologna’s defensive structure, especially with the addition of experienced players like Riccardo Orsolini and Juan Miranda, should be robust enough to contain Udinese’s limited attacking threat. Meanwhile, Udinese’s strategy will likely revolve around absorbing pressure and looking to hit Bologna on the counter, but their lack of firepower could hinder their ability to score, particularly away from home.

Furthermore, Udinese’s top scorer last season, Lorenzo Lucca, has only just returned to fitness and may not be at his sharpest. Without a fully fit strike force, Udinese could struggle to create clear-cut chances, especially against a Bologna side determined to start their season on a positive note.

Considering both teams’ recent form and tactical approaches, a match where only one team or neither manages to score seems a plausible scenario. Thus, betting on both teams not to score offers good value.

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