Serie A | Gameweek 21

Jan 18, 2025 at 2pm UK

Stadio Renato Dall'Ara

Bologna vs Monza

Match preview

For the second time in two games this year, Bologna held Inter Milan to a 2-2 draw at the San Siro on Wednesday night.

The Scudetto holders struck twice after supposed Inter target man Santiago Castro had given the visitors an early lead, but Emil Holm's deflected effort levelled the scores midway through the second half.

After losing to Hellas Verona in the final game of last year, the Rossoblu kicked off 2025 with a late stoppage-time defeat to Roma, leaving them without a win since beating Torino in December.

Coach Vincenzo Italiano will therefore be hoping for a win against relegation-threatened Bologna this weekend, when his side could set a new club record for points after 20 Serie A games - 33 if they win.

Bologna are eighth in the table, just outside the automatic European places, and before they return to the Champions League next week when they host Borussia Dortmund, they must first entertain Monza.

Having drawn five of their first nine home league games this season, the Emilian club will be looking to complete the league double against an opponent they beat 2-1 in the reverse fixture in September.

Meanwhile, Monza may have other ideas, having taken four points from two previous top-flight trips to Bologna. However, they were beaten 4-0 at the Stadio Dall'Ara in a recent Coppa Italia tie.

While the Bianconeri remain bottom of the standings, six points adrift of safety, they pulled off a major upset on Monday night when they defeated high-flying Fiorentina.

Finally getting their first home win of a dismal league campaign, they overcame a Fiorentina side coached by former boss Raffaele Palladino, with goals from Patrick Ciurria and Daniel Maldini sealing a valuable 2-1 victory.

It was also the first Serie A win for new coach Salvatore Bocchetti in his ninth spell in charge, having failed to do so during a brief spell at Verona, and ended Monza's 11-game wait for maximum points.

Now, the Biancorossi will be looking for their first away win since October as they attempt to make a big dent in the relegation battle in the second half of the season.

Recent Performance

Bologna Serie A form:DWWLDD

Bologna form (all competitions):DWWLDD

Monza Serie A form:LLLLLW

Team News

After a tough midweek fixture - and with European commitments on the horizon next Tuesday - Bologna coach Vincenzo Italiano could make a handful of changes.

Colombian centre-back Jhon Lucumi should return to the side after serving a one-match ban, while Lewis Ferguson and Juan Miranda could also be recalled.

Long-term absentees Oussama El Azzouzi and Nicolo Cambiaghi have recently returned to training, although the latter is not yet ready to feature, while Swiss midfielder Michel Aebischer remains sidelined with a hernia problem.

Monza, meanwhile, have Danilo D'Ambrosio back after serving a one-match ban, but Portuguese full-back Pedro Pereira is suspended.

Samuele Birindelli, Dany Mota and Luca Caldirola are all ruled out, while influential defender Pablo Mari will undergo a pre-match fitness test to determine his availability.

Long-term absentees Matteo Pessina and Roberto Gagliardini are still missing, but new signing Stefan Lekovic could be available after completing his first season on loan from Red Star Belgrade, while Georgios Kyriakopoulos is back in contention after recovering from injury.

Possible starting lineup

Bologna possible starting lineup:

Skorupski; Holm, Beukema, Lucumi, Miranda; Freuler, Pobega; Orsolini, Ferguson, Dominguez; Castro

Monza possible starting lineup:

Turati; Izzo, Caldirola, Carboni; Ciurria, Bianco, Sensi, Bondo, Kyriakopoulos; Caprari, Maldini