One team on a high, the other in search of stability – that’s how the duel at the Stadio Renato Dall’Ara presents itself when Bologna welcomes Cremonese. Bologna is in 5th place in Serie A with 24 points and goes into this game with a lot of confidence, backed by a 4-1 win over Salzburg in the Europa League, among other things. Federico Bernardeschi is scoring reliably again, and coach Vincenzo Italiano praises the team’s stable performance and clear structure. Cremonese, on the other hand, are looking much more inconsistent. After three defeats in a row, they at least managed a draw last time out, but their defense showed weaknesses and their attack often lacks punch. In a direct comparison, Bologna has had the upper hand recently, winning 5-1 in Cremona in May 2023, preceded by a 1-1 draw in Bologna. Cremonese will have to defend compactly and create chances through quick transitions. Overall, there is a lot to suggest a win for the Rossoblù, with realistic results being 2-0 or 2-1 for Bologna. As a guide, the probability can be classified as follows: Bologna with around 60 to 70%, a draw with 20 to 25% and Cremonese with 10 to 15%. Possible tips with moderate risk, explicitly not financial advice, would be Bologna to win, an under 3.5 goal bet, and a bet on both teams to score: yes, although this seems less secure due to Cremonese’s difficult form; it is crucial to keep an eye on team news, as the absence of Freuler or Skorupski could influence the odds.
- Venue: Stadio Renato Dall’Ara, Bologna
- Date and time: December 1, 2025, 8:45 p.m.
- Competition: Serie A (Matchday 13)
Before placing a bet on the Bologna vs. Cremonese match, it is worth taking a closer look at the available betting recommendations and the underlying figures. These recommendations can be refined in terms of language, checked for plausibility in terms of content, and supplemented with a clear risk analysis and bankroll management. It is important to check the sources of the form statistics mentioned, such as the last five games or the 80% values cited, to take into account absences such as Skorupski’s and their influence on the odds, and to only bet money that you can afford to lose.
FC Bologna form & record check
Bologna is currently in a strong phase, with four wins and one draw in its last five competitive games, and no defeats. Its fifth place in Serie A with 24 points is well deserved, even if pursuers such as Inter and Como are right behind it with the same number of points. Their strength after the break is striking: in their last five games, the Rossoblù went into the break with a draw and then scored in four of those five games without conceding in the second half. This combination of defensive stability after the break and offensive power is a clear factor in their success. The 4-1 win against Salzburg was a statement, with Odgaard, Dallinga, Bernardeschi, and Orsolini all scoring. Bernardeschi is back in good form and brings new options to the attack, which Italiano expressly emphasizes. The away wins in Udine (3-0) and Parma (3-1) as well as the 2-0 home win against Napoli underline the consistency, with the goalless draw against Brann in the Europa League being the only exception in this series. Bologna are currently 18th in the Europa League, two points behind 8th place, which would secure direct qualification for the round of 16, so their international form shows potential but is not yet assured. In terms of personnel, the loss of Remo Freuler with a broken collarbone until the end of December weighs heavily, and regular goalkeeper Skorupski is also out with a muscle injury. On the positive side, Rowe and Cambiaghi are expected back in early December and could expand the options in the squad. Overall, the team is performing well despite the absences, with tactical stability and second-half strength standing out. If they can maintain their health and rhythm, Bologna are well positioned to hold their place in the top third of the league and fight for playoff or round of 16 spots in Europe.
Bologna are expected to line up in their usual 4-2-3-1 formation, but will have to replace several key players. Regular goalkeeper Skorupski is out, as is Remo Freuler with a broken collarbone, so Todor Ravaglia is expected to start in goal. On the wings, Rowe and Cambiaghi, who were intended as replacements for Aaron Hickey, are also unavailable, so Bologna will have to rely on alternatives in depth. In defensive midfield, the double six will have to maintain stability, as Freuler’s absence affects both creativity and defensive work. Offensively, Federico Bernardeschi could take on a leading role after his two recent goals and act as a central playmaker behind the striker, while Joshua Dallinga is expected to be preferred in the center of the attack. Overall, the formation remains nominally the same, but personnel shortages, particularly in goal, central midfield, and on the wings, could limit Bologna’s style of play and variability, with Bernardeschi and Dallinga now bearing even greater responsibility for the team’s offensive firepower.
Cremonese Form & Record Check
Cremonese is in a negative streak with three consecutive defeats and has slipped to 11th place with 14 points. The gap to 10th place is small at three points, but the form curve is not right. In recent weeks, a clear pattern has emerged: uneventful first halves, with no more than 1.5 goals scored before the break in the last five games, and much more open, often problematic second halves. In four of these five games, Cremonese scored and conceded after the break. The 1-3 defeat to Roma followed exactly this pattern, with a narrow 0-1 at half-time, followed by a defensive collapse with goals from Ferguson and Wesley and only a late consolation goal from Folino, which did not change the outcome. Before the three defeats, however, there were also positive outliers, such as the 2-0 away win at Genoa and a 1-1 draw against Atalanta. This shows that Cremonese can be competitive against stronger opponents, but too often lets points slip away in close games. In terms of personnel, the loss of midfielder Michele Collocolo until the end of December due to a thigh injury is a problem, a factor in stability and balance issues in the center. In the short term, measures to improve defensive stability and fitness for the second half seem particularly sensible, for example, targeted tactical adjustments at half-time and earlier planned offensive and defensive substitutions, plus careful rehabilitation and load management for Collocolo and psychological work on resilience in the final stages.
Coach Davide Nicola is expected to stick with a 3-5-2 formation, with Audero in goal and Terracciano, Baschirotto, and Bianchetti forming a back three. Barbieri and Floriani Mussolini are expected to provide width on the wings, with Payero, Bondo, and Vandeputte planned for midfield. Nicola will rely on Jamie Vardy and Federico Bonazzoli up front. Michele Collocolo is definitely out with a thigh muscle injury and is expected to be sidelined until the end of December, but apart from that, Nicola has a free hand to use his preferred formation without any major compromises.
FC Bologna – Cremonese Head-to-head & statistics
The last two meetings between Bologna and Cremonese took place in Serie A in 2023, with Bologna remaining unbeaten and securing a clear 5-1 win in Cremona and a 1-1 draw at home at the Stadio Renato Dall’Ara. The away game in Cremona ended in a surprisingly clear 5-1 win for Bologna. It was noticeable that in both games, the second half was significantly more goal-rich and both teams scored. Cremonese’s main goal now is to score points against Bologna for the first time in their recent history, with positive memories more likely to be linked to the 1-1 draw in Bologna than the 5-1 home defeat against the Rossoblù.
