Bologna will host Turin at the Stadio Renato Dall’Ara on Wednesday evening without their coach Vincenzo Italiano, who is in hospital with bacterial pneumonia. The hosts are in 5th place in the table with 14 points, just one point behind Inter, while Turin are in 12th place with 11 points.
Despite the absence of Italiano, who coached the team via cell phone during their recent Europa League victory in Bucharest (2-1), and the suspension of Emil Holm after his yellow-red card in the 2-2 draw against Fiorentina, the Rossoblù go into the game as clear favorites. Bologna are brimming with confidence after two league wins and international success.
Turin has been inconsistent lately. After two defeats, the team fought back to win 2-1 at home against Genoa with a late header from Maripán, which could give the team a boost. Overall, however, Turin seems inconsistent and is level on points with Cremonese in mid-table.
In head-to-head comparisons, Bologna has dominated the last five encounters with three wins, one draw, and one defeat. The most recent meeting in February ended 3-2 in favor of Bologna. The low scoring rate in this fixture is striking: four of the last five games between the two teams have ended with less than 2.5 goals.
Bologna are likely to control more possession, while Torino will rely on counterattacks and set pieces. The statistics from previous encounters and the low-scoring results suggest that this will be a low-scoring match.
- Venue: Stadio Renato Dall’Ara, Bologna
- Date and time: October 29, 2025, 8:45 p.m.
- Competition: Serie A (Matchday 9)
A home win for Bologna seems attractive. The Rossoblù are unbeaten in their last five games and have led at half-time in all five. Torino have only managed narrow wins by a single goal difference recently and will have to play without Schuurs in defense. The market odds of around 1.8 seem justified given their form.
Both teams to score looks moderately positive. Both teams have scored in each of their last five games. Bologna showed defensive weaknesses, for example in the 2-2 draw with Fiorentina, and at Torino, suspensions and motivational factors, especially with the return of Vlašić, could lead to an open encounter.
A Bologna half-time win is risky but potentially lucrative. Bologna has led at halftime without conceding in five games, while Torino has often had less than 1.5 goals at halftime in recent games. With odds of around 2.4, there is value in betting on Bologna’s early pressing.
Injuries, suspensions, tactical changes, and short-term fluctuations in form can quickly influence predictions. Bets should be placed responsibly and betting limits should be observed.
FC Bologna Form & Record Check
Bologna is in strong form and sits in 5th place in the table with 14 points. Only one point separates the Rossoblù from fourth-placed Inter, while the gap to Como below them remains very small.
The team currently appears confident and rarely loses. It is noteworthy that Bologna has led at halftime in all five of its most recent matches, indicating a strong and consistent start to games. Examples include the 2-0 away win at Cagliari, the 4-0 home win against Pisa, and the 2-1 win in Bucharest against FCSB in the Europa League.
The 2-2 draw at Fiorentina was dramatic: Castro gave Bologna the lead in the 25th minute, Cambiaghi added another after the restart, but two penalties for the hosts levelled the score. Holm’s late red card after a second yellow made the situation even more difficult.
Defensively, Bologna are currently showing stability, conceding virtually no goals in recent games, especially in the first halves. Coach Italiano missed the FCSB game due to pneumonia and was only involved by telephone, but the team still performed well and are drawing confidence from their recent performances.
Vincenzo Italiano is expected to line up Bologna in a 4-2-3-1 formation. Skorupski will be in goal, with Zortea on the right, Heggem and Lucumí in central defense, and Miranda on the left.
Remo Freuler and Lewis Ferguson will occupy the defensive midfield. Holm is suspended after receiving a yellow-red card against Fiorentina, which leaves the center lacking depth.
The attacking trio could consist of Riccardo Orsolini on the right, Giovanni Fabbian in the center, and Nicolò Cambiaghi on the left. Santiago Castro is expected to be the lone striker.
Winter signings such as Sulemana, Benja Domínguez, Ciro Immobile, and De Silvestri are ineligible to play in the Europa League. This forces tactical flexibility and makes the bench more important. Possible alternatives are Bernardeschi, Odgaard, or Dallinga.
The final starting lineup will only be confirmed shortly before kickoff, and Italiano could still make changes depending on the opponent and the course of the game.
Turin Form & Record Check
Turin has shown inconsistent performances in its last five competitive games, with two wins, one draw, and two losses. The team scored at least one goal in all five games, which indicates offensive consistency. However, its overall ranking of 12th with 11 points remains below expectations.
The recent 2-1 home win against Genoa was hard-fought: after falling behind to a goal from Thorsby, an own goal from Sabelli in the 63rd minute brought the score level, before Maripán scored the winning goal with a header in the 90th minute. Goalkeeper Paleari had to make several saves, highlighting defensive weaknesses. Previously, there was a win against Napoli (1-0), a 3-3 draw at Lazio, and a 1-2 defeat in Parma, illustrating the team’s inconsistency.
The low productivity in the first half is striking. In four of the last five games, fewer than 1.5 goals were scored before the break. The team’s effectiveness usually only comes after the break, either tactically intentional through later offensive impulses or a sign of a lack of early control.
Schuur is still out after knee surgery and Nkounkou is out with thigh problems. On a positive note, Vlašić is back in the Croatian national team after seven months, even though he was substituted for Ngonge in the 60th minute of the home game against Genoa after receiving a yellow card. Casadei also received a warning.
Turin remains capable offensively, but vulnerable defensively and inconsistent overall. The decisive factor will be whether the team gains stability in the early stages and recovers from the absences.
Coach Marco Baroni is likely to opt for a 3-4-1-2 system again. Alberto Paleari is expected to start in goal after making some important saves in the closing stages against Genoa.
The back three is likely to consist of Tamèze, Maripán, and Coco. Pedersen is expected to play on the right and Biraghi on the left. Asllani and Casadei should provide stability in central midfield, while Vlašić will play as an attacking midfielder behind the strike duo of Adams and Simeone.
Schuurs, Nkounkou, and Savva are unavailable, limiting the options. Overall, personnel surprises in the starting lineup are unlikely.
FC Bologna – Turin Head-to-head comparison & statistics
In the last five meetings, Bologna won three times, Turin once, and one game ended in a draw. Bologna’s only defeat in this period dates back to March 2023, and they have been unbeaten against Turin since then.
Four out of five games had fewer than 2.5 goals. In four out of five meetings, the teams had fewer than 1.5 goals at halftime. Most goals were scored in the second half, with games often starting tactically and with few goals, becoming more open after the break.
Both teams show high defensive discipline in the first half of these matches. Bologna has gained the upper hand in recent years, while Torino has been waiting for another win since their 1-0 victory in 2023.
Games with low scores in the first half and a total of under 2.5 goals are more likely in this series. A bet on less than 1.5 goals at halftime or more goals in the second half would also be statistically justifiable, but does not take into account current form, injuries, or lineups.
