The Azzurri look to make it four games unbeaten against their mid-week opponents but these Empoli vs. Bologna predictions suggest that will be a tough task. With 32 games played, it is the visitors that go into the game as heavy favourites.
Empoli vs. Bologna odds
1 – Bologna to win – 3/2
2 – Under 2.5 goals scored – 7/10
3 – Bologna to keep a clean sheet – 9/5
4 – Musa Barrow to score first – 9/1
5 – Nicolo Cambiaghi to score anytime – 24/5
Bologna travel south to face Empoli on Thursday evening, hoping to bounce back following a tough run of fixtures. The Rossoblu have impressed this season under Thiago Motta and deserve their status as strong favourites for this one.
While unlikely, Bologna fans would be forgiven for having one eye on a potential European finish come the end of the season. They sit 10 points below 6th place in the league table but will be very aware that they have a far easier run-in than the likes of Inter and Atalanta.
But in order to even entertain this as a possibility, Thiago Motta’s side need to start winning again. A tough run of fixtures, that saw games against Milan and Juventus and a disappointing defeat to Verona, has lowered morale and an injury crisis has resulted in a lack of an available goalscorer.
This will certainly boost the prospects of Empoli, who have been appalling up front. The Azzurri have failed to score in three of their last four Serie A matches ahead of this weekend’s fixtures, with none of their players having scored more than four this season.
As a result, a wager on a low-scoring match on Thursday could well pay off. The last two meetings between the sides have seen under 1.5 goals scored and just one side on the scoresheet seems highly likely at the Stadio Carlo Castellani.
Despite an undoubted lack of clinical finishing, there will be a number of interesting attacking prospects on display. On his day, Musa Barrow can be a real threat coming in off the wing and is our tip to score first against Empoli.
In the opposing dugout, both Tommaso Baldanzi and Nicolo Cambiaghi are worth keeping an eye on. The latter has started just five games in Serie A but has scored three goals and could well be worth a bet to score anytime here.
How to stream Empoli vs. Bologna
Watch Empoli vs. Bologna live on Thursday with a credited bet365 account or having placed a bet within 24 hours of kick-off.
Empoli vs. Bologna last five matches
Empoli last five matches
Bologna last five matches
Empoli top goalscorers
| Player | Total goals |
|---|---|
| 6 | |
| 5 | |
| 4 | |
| 2 | |
| 2 |
Bologna top goalscorers
| Player | Total goals |
|---|---|
| 11 | |
| 10 | |
| 7 | |
| 6 | |
| 4 |
Empoli vs. Bologna line-ups
Empoli (4-3-1-2): Perisan; Ebuehi, Ismajli, Luperto, Parisi; Haas, Marin, Bandinelli; Baldanzi; Caputo, Cambiaghi
Bologna (4-2-3-1) Skorupski; Posch, Soumaoro, Lucumi, Kyriakopoulos; Schouten, Dominguez; Aebischer, Ferguson, Barrow; Zirkzee
Empoli team news
Guglielmo Vicario may be on track to return in goal, although he lacks match fitness, while Koni De Winter and Jean-Daniel Akpa Akpro are both sidelined. Nicolo Cambiaghi is expected to retain his spot up front having scored two goals in his last three starts.
Bologna team news
Thiago Motta is likely to be without Nicola Sansone, Marko Arnautovic and Roberto Soriano for Thursday’s game, limiting the coach’s forward options. Andrea Cambiaso is also out injured, with Giogrios Kyriakopoulos set to start at left back.