Bologna, brimming with confidence following a five - match unbeaten run in Serie A and a midweek Coppa Italia quarter - final victory over Atalanta BC, set off with high spirits when they traveled south to Lecce last week. However, they ended up being held to a 0 - 0 draw.

In the first half at Stadio Via del Mare, goalkeeper Lukasz Skorupski's heroic saves maintained the Emilian side's parity. Despite having minimal attacking threat, they managed to secure a single point against the relegation - threatened Lecce.

Notwithstanding this result, the Rossoblu are on the verge of achieving an unbeaten streak in their first seven league games of a calendar year for the first time since 2012, as the intense competition for European berths rages on.

Currently tied on points with AC Milan, whom they are scheduled to face twice before the season's end, and trailing just behind Fiorentina and Juventus, Vincenzo Italiano's team is determined to secure more European opportunities after this season's Champions League campaign.

Having suffered only one Serie A defeat at the Dall'Ara this season, Bologna anticipates continuing their positive form against Torino. Friday's hosts have emerged victorious in three of the last five encounters between the two clubs.

In fact, they have managed to keep clean sheets in the last three meetings, with a memorable 2 - 0 away win in December, courtesy of late goals from Tommaso Pobega and Thijs Dallinga.

Before setting off for Emilia-Romagna on this occasion, Torino have also failed to win any of their last eight league games in Bologna.

Like their hosts, Toro are undefeated in 2025 - albeit winning just once since the turn of the year - but they are still some 10 points behind in the Serie A standings.

Last time out, Paolo Vanoli's men were pegged back by Genoa in a 1-1 draw that saw new boys Cesare Casadei and Cristiano Biraghi both make their debut from the bench.

As a result, they have drawn six of their last seven matches - at least two more than anyone else across Europe's top five leagues since Christmas.

Having stopped their mid-season slide towards a possible survival scrap, Torino are back in contention for a top-half finish, and victory on Friday would - at least temporarily - take them 10th in the table.

While their recent record at Stadio Dall'Ara may be dismal, the Granata have not lost any of their last five away fixtures; so ending Bologna's unbeaten run is now within their sights.

Bologna boss Vincenzo Italiano can welcome back influential winger Riccardo Orsolini, who has returned to full training after a thigh injury, but Lewis Ferguson and Jens Odgaard are still on the treatment table.

The hosts' leading scorer could join six-goal striker Santiago Castro in a four-man front line, though Thijs Dallinga is vying with the latter to start.

Recent signing Davide Calabria - formerly captain of Milan - will be up against competition from Emil Holm and Lorenzo De Silvestri to feature at right-back.

Torino acquired Eljif Elmas, Cristiano Biraghi and Cesare Casadei during the winter window, with the latter most likely to start on Friday evening.

A one-match ban for Samuele Ricci could see Casadei make his full debut for the Turin club, particularly as Adrien Tameze sustained a muscular injury in the draw with Genoa and is also set to miss out.

Alieu Njie again joins long-term absentees Perr Schuurs and Duvan Zapata on the sidelines.

Bologna possible starting lineup:

Skorupski; Calabria, Beukema, Lucumi, Miranda; Freuler, Moro; Orsolini, Dominguez, Ndoye; Castro

Torino possible starting lineup:

Milinkovic-Savic; Pedersen, Maripan, Coco, Sosa; Casadei, Linetty; Lazaro, Vlasic, Karamoh; Adams