With the Serie A title race starting to look like a one-horse race, it is up to Bologna to try and add some intrigue, as they are one of only two teams to have beaten Inter Milan this season. That victory came in the Coppa Italia on penalties, after they drew 2-2 in the first leg despite being two goals down. Given that the Red and Blue have now won six league games in a row, they could pose further problems for the league leaders, as they look to solidify their top-four ambitions.
Bologna also boasts one of the best home records in the league this season. The Renato Dall’Ara stadium has seen them take 83% of the points available from their 14 league games there this year. Having won 11 of their last 12 competitive games at this venue, Thiago Motta’s side could well be the team to re-ignite the Scudetto race.
Inter’s 2-1 win over Genoa last time out was their 12th consecutive victory, which has put them 15 points clear at the top of the table going into this matchday. The win also saw coach Simone Inzaghi reach 179 wins in the competition, the most by any coach in the top flight in their first 300 games in charge. However, European football is around the corner for the Nerazzurri, and they could well prioritize that over the domestic campaign.
They will, however, be ambitious enough to avoid defeat here. That is something they have managed in their last two visits to the top flight here, and they will also be keen to avenge their Coppa Italia disappointment. The visitors have not lost three consecutive Serie A away games since November 1999, and they are still unbeaten on the road this season (14 wins, 4 draws), including on neutral territory.
Players to watch: Bologna’s Riccardo Orsolini loves playing against Inter. The forward scored the only goal in Bologna’s 1-0 win in this fixture here last season, as well as the opener in the first leg. Lautaro Martínez has also scored three career goals against Bologna, all in the first half. That includes Inter’s second in the first leg.
Hot stat: Inter have not conceded a league goal beyond the 80th minute this season, but Bologna have scored nearly a quarter of their goals in that period.
Prediction: Bologna 2-2 Inter Milan
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