AC Fiorentina vs Bologna F.C. Best odds and tips

AC Fiorentina have fallen on hard times recently, winning just one, drawing one and losing three of their last five games in all competitions, but Raffaele Palladino’s men are still a force to be reckoned with at home. Fiorentina have won 11 of their 18 home Serie A games this season, drawing four and losing only three, and home advantage could be crucial in this clash with Bologna F.C. The hosts, who have slipped to ninth in Serie A on 59 points from 36 games, trail Bologna by three points in seventh place, and Bologna have a slight edge in the head-to-heads too, winning three of the last five Serie A clashes between the two sides, with Fiorentina winning the other two. Bologna have been in mixed form of late, winning two, drawing two and losing one of their last five, but Vincenzo Italiano’s tactical tweaks since taking over as manager in July have steadied the ship and his side are pushing for a European spot.

Bologna have won six, drawn seven and lost five of their 18 away Serie A games this season, so they are a tough nut to crack, but Fiorentina’s home form suggests they can get something from this game. Bologna won the last head-to-head 1-0 at home four months ago and, with both teams struggling for form, an away win or hard-fought draw seems likely. Fiorentina have won two of the last three home head-to-heads in Serie A, but Bologna have won three of the last five overall, with no draws, so the Double Chance (Fiorentina or Draw) looks like a strong play given the hosts’ home form and the visitors’ tendency to draw on the road.

Fiorentina are a possession-based team that like to play at a high tempo, either in a 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 formation, where they dominate the midfield and try to outplay opponents with their technical quality. Bologna are a bit more flexible in their 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 system, which allows them to sit deep and compact, while also releasing their counter-attackers, which should suit them against a team that likes to dominate possession. A tight, tactical battle is expected, with Bologna edging the head-to-heads and the league table, but Fiorentina have the better home form, so a 1-1 draw is the correct score prediction. Moise Kean is the talisman of Fiorentina’s attack in Serie A, scoring 17 goals in 30 appearances, while Bologna’s main man up front is Riccardo Orsolini, who has 13 league goals in 28 games this season. Orsolini has scored two of Bologna’s five goals in their last five games, so he looks a better anytime goalscorer bet than Robin Gosens, who has scored three of Fiorentina’s last six. Fiorentina have averaged 1.61 goals per home game in Serie A this season, scoring 29 times at the Artemio Franchi Stadium, while Bologna have conceded 1.44 goals per away game, shipping 26 in total.