Bologna vs Roma Prediction 12 January 2025

🔊 Will the central game of the 20th round of Serie A live up to the high expectations? On January 12, at the "Renato Dall'Ara," Bologna, which has managed to find optimal form after a poor start, will meet Roma, showcasing top-quality football under Claudio Ranieri. In this situation, we will try to analyze all the strengths and weaknesses of the opponents to provide you with an accurate prediction.

📊 Head-to-Head

In head-to-head encounters, Roma has a noticeable advantage in results. Over a stretch of 36 matches, Bologna has recorded 9 victories, while the "she-wolf" has inflicted 17 defeats on its opponent. As for the first-round match, Bologna won away with a score of 3-2. However, it must be admitted that the Roma of that time and the current Roma are two completely different teams.

🔴 Bologna

Due to the Italian Super Cup (in the 19th round Bologna was supposed to play against Inter), the "red-blues" have not played a single match in 2025 yet. Perhaps this short break was needed for Vincenzo Italiano's team, considering how they ended 2024 unsuccessfully. On December 30, the team lost at home to Verona (2-3), although before that they had not tasted defeat in 6 consecutive matches. But it's not fair to say that Bologna played poorly. Statistically, the "red-blues" completely outperformed their opponent, it's just that all of Verona's shots were on target (xG 0.80). Moreover, nothing terrible happened. The team continues to occupy the seventh place in the standings, with good chances of making it into the top-6. Regarding the upcoming match, the coaching staff will not be able to count on Michel Aebischer, Nicolo Cambiaghi, and Oussama Al-Azzouzi, who have long been in the infirmary.

🐺 Roma

If Roma's management had appointed Claudio Ranieri as head coach at the beginning of the season, the team would be contending for the top-4. Under the guidance of the experienced Italian specialist, the "she-wolf" has started playing much better both in defense and attack. Over a stretch of the last 7 matches, Roma has secured 5 victories, and in the previous round defeated Lazio, their most principled rival (2-0). Currently, the team is in tenth place, but a few more successful matches could allow them to join the fight for the top-6. Regarding the upcoming match, only Bryan Cristante (injury), Zeki Celik (illness), and Mathew Ryan (injury) are doubtful.

⚽️ Goal Prediction

The spectacle of the match between Bologna and Roma is beyond doubt. Firstly, both teams are in excellent form. Over a stretch of the last 7 games, each team has suffered only one defeat. Secondly, both the "red-blues" and the "she-wolf" have significantly improved their finishing. The same Roma has started scoring 3-4 goals per match. Therefore, our betting option will be total over 2.5.

🚩 Corner Prediction

It's hard to call Bologna and Roma big fans of set pieces. Both teams are in the second half of Serie A's table for corners earned. For instance, the "red-blues" approach the corner flag 4.6 times per game (11th place). Claudio Ranieri's team, on the other hand, averages 3.9 corners, with only Venezia (3.3) and Monza (3.3) having lower figures. In this situation, a bet on total corners under 9.5 looks very attractive.

📝 Editorial Prediction

According to bookmakers, both teams have approximately equal chances of winning in the upcoming encounter. However, we give our preference to Roma. Firstly, the "she-wolf's" play under Claudio Ranieri is impressive. The team from Rome has secured 5 victories in their last 7 matches, thrashing their opponents by a margin of 3 goals in 4 cases. Bologna, of course, has also improved compared to the start of the season but still lacks stability. This is confirmed by their last match result against Verona at home (2-3). Moreover, the "she-wolf" will clearly want to take revenge for their first-round defeat. We wouldn't be surprised if the visitors win with a score like 1-2. However, we'll take a more reliable bet to minimize risks - Roma will not lose.