Key Facts
- AS Roma is tied with Como on points in the race for European spots; Bologna is defending eighth place with just a one-point lead over Lazio – both teams are under pressure.
- AS Roma has scored in all five of its most recent competitive matches, but travels without Artem Dovbyk, Evan Ferguson, and Lorenzo Pellegrini, which weakens the attack.
- Bologna must do without starting goalkeeper Lukasz Skorupski and fell behind early in the 0-2 loss to Juventus without an adequate response.
- Jonathan Rowe has established himself as Bologna’s most dangerous attacking weapon; however, the team showed clear weaknesses against stronger opponents (Juventus, Aston Villa).
- H2H pattern: In four of the last five meetings, there were fewer than two goals at halftime; the matches often didn’t open up until the second half.
- Due to absences in both teams’ attacking lines and Bologna’s lack of goal-scoring threat against stronger opponents, a bet on “Under 2.5 goals” is statistically well-founded.
Jonathan Rowe has emerged as one of the more interesting stories of the season surrounding FC Bologna, especially following his recent strong performances in Europe. Now he faces AS Roma again in a much more high-stakes Serie A setting. Saturday’s clash at the Stadio Renato Dall’Ara comes after Vincenzo Italiano’s team’s lackluster 2-0 win over Juventus, while Gian Piero Gasperini’s AS Roma arrives on the back of a 1-1 draw with Atalanta and continues to fight hard for a spot in the top six.
The two teams last met in March 2026: FC Bologna drew 1-1 at home against AS Roma and then won 4-3 in extra time in Rome in the Europa League. This history makes the match even more complicated, especially since AS Roma is level on points with Como, while FC Bologna is just one point ahead of Lazio.
- Venue: Stadio Renato Dall’Ara, Bologna
- Date and time: April 25, 2026, 6:00 PM
- Competition: Serie A (Matchday 34)
The bookmakers see AS Roma as only slight favorites, but the statistics still favor them. The Romans have scored in five consecutive competitive matches, and FC Bologna will have to do without Lukasz Skorupski. While Jonathan Rowe’s recent form calls for caution, AS Roma will also be without Lorenzo Pellegrini, Evan Ferguson, and Artem Dovbyk, which suggests a low-scoring game.
FC Bologna Form & Record Check
FC Bologna’s 2-0 loss at Juventus was a stark reminder of how little room for error there is against stronger opponents.
The Bolognesi fell behind almost immediately, never really found their rhythm, and even Vincenzo Italiani’s quick substitutions after halftime couldn’t change the overall pattern of the match. For a team looking to defend eighth place in the table with just a one-point lead over Lazio, it was a disappointing performance at the wrong time.
The overall picture is mixed. The league wins against Cremonese and Lecce show that FC Bologna can win the games they’re supposed to win, and Jonathan Rowe has established himself as a more dangerous offensive weapon. But the two losses to Aston Villa in the Europa League quarterfinals have revealed how quickly the team’s structure can falter. With Lukasz Skorupski still out, the team looks a tad more vulnerable than Italiano would like.
FC Bologna is likely to rely once again on Vincenzo Italiano’s tried-and-true 4-3-3 formation, though this is still purely a projected lineup. With Lukasz Skorupski out, Federico Ravaglia – 13 is the likely starter in goal. In front of him, Nadir Zortea – 20, Martin Vitík – 41, Jhon Lucumí – 26, and Juan Miranda – 33 appear to form the most likely back four, especially since Nicolò Casale remains unavailable.
In midfield, the forecast points to Remo Freuler – 8 as the anchor, flanked by Lewis Ferguson – 19 and Tommaso Pobega – 4, who are expected to bring FC Bologna’s usual balance between pressing and tackling. Up front, Jonathan Rowe – 11 could retain his spot alongside Riccardo Orsolini – 7 and Santiago Castro – 9, while Thijs Dallinga, Federico Bernardeschi, and Benja Domínguez remain sidelined.
AS Roma Form & Record Check
AS Roma’s 1-1 draw against Atalanta felt useful without being truly satisfying. The Romans fell behind early, equalized through Mario Hermoso before halftime, and then managed the second half with a series of substitutions. Following the painful defeat to Inter earlier this month, the result has at least restored some stability, which carries significant weight in a table where every small shift around the European spots counts.
In the league, their recent form is impressive. AS Roma defeated Pisa and Lecce without much fuss, and they’ve scored in five consecutive matches across all competitions, giving them a clearer attacking profile than FC Bologna at the moment. The concern is availability: Lorenzo Pellegrini, Evan Ferguson, and Artem Dovbyk are all out, so more creativity will likely be required from Paulo Dybala, Matías Soulé, and the fullbacks.
AS Roma is likely to line up with a back three: Gianluca Mancini – 23, Evan Ndicka – 5, and Mario Hermoso – 22 in front of Mile Svilar – 99. If this assessment holds true, Zeki Çelik – 19 and Devyne Rensch – 2 should provide width, while Neil El Aynaoui – 8 and Bryan Cristante – 4 lend stability to the midfield.
Further up front, Matías Soulé – 18 and Stephan El Shaarawy – 92 are likely to form the supporting duo behind Donyell Malen – 14, even if this is only a projected lineup for now. The absences of Lorenzo Pellegrini, Evan Ferguson, and Artem Dovbyk noticeably limit the options in attack, which is why AS Roma will likely have to rely more on combination play and movement than on a classic target man.
FC Bologna – AS Roma Head-to-Head & Statistics
The last five meetings lean slightly in favor of FC Bologna. The Rossoblù have won two matches, AS Roma one, and the most recent example dates back to March 2026, when the teams drew 1-1 at the Dall’Ara, before FC Bologna won 4-3 in extra time in Rome in the Europa League. AS Roma’s only win in this five-game sample was a 1-0 league victory in August 2025.
The most striking pattern here is rhythmic in nature. In four of the five matches, there were fewer than two goals on the board at halftime, but the game regularly opened up in the second half. AS Roma scored after the break in all five matches, while FC Bologna conceded a goal in the second half every time. A low-scoring first third of the match is quite conceivable, even though this rivalry typically doesn’t really pick up steam until later in the game.
