Key Facts
- Pisa goes into the home game in 19th place with 15 points, nine points behind Lecce, while Bologna is in eighth place (36), just one point ahead of Sassuolo.
- Pisa has not won in five league games, most recently losing 0-1 to Fiorentina and 1-2 to Milan; often finding themselves chasing the game before half-time.
- Bologna are riding high on the back of four wins in five games, including three narrow league victories; they have not conceded a goal before half-time in their last five games.
- The absence of goalkeeper Scuffet and defender Denoon reduces Pisa’s margin for error, while Bologna are missing Miranda, Lykogiannis, and Heggem on the left, but their organization has remained stable.
- The most recent head-to-head matches ended 4-0 (2025) and 3-0 (2019) in favor of Bologna; with Pisa’s three goalless draws in five games, “Both teams to score: No” and Bologna to keep a clean sheet seem obvious.
When you go into every home game in 19th place with 15 points and the gap to Lecce is already nine points, even a Monday night game quickly feels like a decisive match. It is under this pressure that Pisa, under Oscar Hiljemark, welcomes Vincenzo Italiano’s FC Bologna to the Arena Garibaldi, Stadio Romeo Anconetani, on matchday 27 of Serie A. Bologna are eighth with 36 points, just one point ahead of Sassuolo, and continue to juggle between league ambitions and European cup competition. Pisa’s performances in recent weeks have not always been hopeless, but the results have been: A 0-0 draw at Hellas Verona was followed by a 0-1 defeat at Fiorentina, yet they remain stuck in the relegation zone. Bologna, on the other hand, are riding high after a 1-0 league win against Udinese and a 1-0 win against Brann, which saw them advance to the round of 16 in the Europa League. In October 2025, they already defeated Pisa 4-0.
- Venue: Arena Garibaldi – Stadio Romeo Anconetani, Pisa
- Date and time: March 2, 2026, 6:30 p.m.
- Competition: Serie A (matchday 27)
The clear market trend towards FC Bologna is in line with the facts, as Pisa has not won in five league games and often struggles to get into the game, while Bologna is coming off two 1-0 wins in the Europa League against Brann and has looked structurally stable in front of Skorupski recently. With Scuffet out, Pisa’s margin for error is even smaller, which is why “FC Bologna to win” still sounds fair even at 2.0. However, the safer bet is “Both teams to score: No,” given Pisa’s goalless draws in three of their last five games.
Pisa Form & Record Check
Pisa’s last five league games tell the familiar story of effort that rarely translates into points. Last week, they lost 1-0 at Fiorentina, after losing 2-1 at home to AC Milan and 3-1 to Sassuolo. The 0-0 draw at Hellas Verona was the only game in which they were able to at least briefly halt their downward trend. The most painful result remains the 6-2 defeat at Inter, which ruthlessly showed how quickly games can slip away from them. Interestingly, the pattern is not just about results, but also about timing, as Pisa regularly find themselves chasing the game in the first half. Against Fiorentina, Hiljemark reacted immediately after the break with substitutions, including Iling Junior, Loyola, and Stojilkovic. This seemed like a coach who is still looking for the right balance in attack. With Scuffet out and Denoon also unavailable, defensive stability is harder to guarantee, especially when FC Bologna picks up the pace.
Hiljemark is likely to leave Pisa in their usual 3-4-2-1 formation, with Nícolas as the probable starter because Scuffet is still out with muscle problems. The back three should consist of Canestrelli, Caracciolo, and Bozhinov, a setup that tends to secure the penalty area and seek quick clearances rather than defending high up the pitch. Touré and Angori would provide width, while Loyola and Marin would shield the center and play the first ball up front. In front of them, Moreo and Iling Junior seem the most obvious duo for the two supporting roles, with Moreo dropping into the spaces and Iling Junior attacking the far side during Pisa’s transitions. Stojilkovic is planned as the target player up front. Denoon is still out with an ankle problem, so Calabresi, Coppola, or Albiol could be the main alternatives for the defense. If more creativity is needed on the ball, Tramoni or Stengs could come in as playmakers behind the striker.
FC Bologna Form & Record Check
Bologna’s recent form across all competitions has been more about control than spectacle. They beat Brann 1-0 at home and away to advance in the Europa League, and in Serie A they narrowly beat Udinese 1-0 and won 2-1 in Turin. These results clearly show how comfortable they are in games with minimal margins. Even their Coppa Italia exit against Lazio came only after a 1-1 draw, which was only decided against them in a penalty shootout. A key point in this run is how cleanly Bologna start their games, keeping a clean sheet before the break in their last five matches. Italiano also has match winners spread across the squad, with João Mário scoring against Brann, Bernardeschi deciding the Udinese game from the spot, and Skorupski’s saves securing narrow leads on several occasions. Defensive absences such as Miranda and Heggem weigh heavily, but the basic organization has remained stable enough to keep the match plan from falling apart.
Italiano is likely to stick with his usual system of four defenders, three midfielders, and three attackers, with Skorupski behind a back four of Zortea, Vitík, Lucumí, and João Mário. The forecast is mainly influenced by the absences on the left side: Miranda is out, Lykogiannis is still unavailable, and Heggem is also unavailable. This makes Casale the most likely backup if rotation is necessary. When in possession, the full-backs are likely to push forward consistently. In midfield, Freuler should provide cover, Moro should be responsible for the first ball, and Ferguson should act as a runner. This fits in with Italiano’s pressing and quick ball wins. Up front, Bernardeschi is set to play on the right as a creative player after his recent winning goal from the penalty spot, with Rowe providing depth on the left and Castro leading the line. Skorupski’s heroics in the Europa League underline his value. Dallinga and Orsolini look like the most important substitutes when the front three need fresh legs.
Pisa – FC Bologna Head-to-head comparison & statistics
In October 2025, FC Bologna swept Pisa aside 4-0 in Serie A, a game that quickly became one-sided, leaving Pisa without a goal. A game like that sharpens the focus on the concerns ahead of the current duel, because Bologna mercilessly punished mistakes with pressing and quick transitions instead of relying on long periods of patient build-up play. The other recent duel was longer ago, but points in the same direction: in 2019, FC Bologna won 3-0 away at Pisa in the Coppa Italia. The squad and coach have changed significantly since then, which does not necessarily translate to Monday’s game, but the basic pattern remains the same across both games: Bologna scores at will and keeps it tight at the back. For Pisa, this means that the early stages will be particularly important, getting through, keeping calm, and somehow creating chances without giving FC Bologna too much space.
