Bologna vs Empoli Prediction: Another Dominguez dagger against Gli Azzurri

A 3-0 win at Empoli in the first leg of their 2024/25 Coppa Italia semi-final has put Bologna firmly in control of their destiny, and it would take something remarkable for their opponents to turn the tie around at the Stadio Renato Dall'Ara on Thursday (20:00, Premier Sports Player).

Below are my Bologna vs Empoli predictions, supported by all the latest team news and match odds, ahead of this second leg in northern Italy.

Team News

Lukasz Skorupski (groin), Davide Calabria (ankle) and Lewis Ferguson (thigh) are all sidelined for Bologna due to injury, while Nicolo Casale (shoulder) is a doubt after missing Sunday's 1-0 win over Serie A leaders and reigning champions Inter.

With Skorupski still out, Federico Ravaglia is expected to start in goal again.

Football Odds

I Rossoblu's head coach, Vincenzo Italiano, could make several changes to his starting XI with the tie nearly wrapped up and a trip to Udinese right around the corner.

The likes of Lorenzo De Silvestri, Charalampos Lykogiannis, Nicolo Cambiaghi, Tommaso Pobega and Santiago Castro are all vying for starts, while Sunday's matchwinner, Riccardo Orsolini, will also be hopeful of a promotion from the bench.

Empoli's busy treatment room includes knee injury victims Nicolas Haas, Christian Kouame, Youssef Maleh, Pietro Pellegri, Szymon Zurkowski and Saba Sazonov.

Ardian Ismajli, who has missed his side's last five games with a thigh problem, is also doubtful of featuring on Thursday.

However, Liam Henderson, who served a suspension in the first leg, is back available for selection in the cup.

Bologna vs Empoli Odds

Bologna won the first leg and are 4/9, or a 69.2% chance, to do the Coppa Italia double over Empoli, who are 5/1 (16.7%) to triumph on the night.

The sides played out a 1-1 draw in their first meeting of the season, at Empoli in Serie A on January 25, and a stalemate on Thursday can be backed at 3/1.

If you fancy Empoli to stage a dramatic comeback and win the tie, it's available at 50/1.

Orsolini opened the scoring in the first leg, with Thijs Dallinga bagging a brace to make it 3-0, and both players head the anytime goalscorer market here. Orsolini is 6/4 and Dallinga is 13/8, while Lorenzo Colombo and Sebastiano Esposito (both 4/1) are considered most likely to net for the visitors.

Anytime Goalscorer - Benjamin Dominguez (BOL) @ 15/8

It's been an encouraging first season in Italy for Bologna winger Benjamin Dominguez, who joined from Argentine club Gimnasia last summer. The 21-year-old hasn't been a nailed-on starter but has made 23 appearances for I Rossoblu, scoring four times - three in Serie A, and one in the Coppa Italia.

Dominguez hasn't scored in any of his last 13 appearances, with his last strike coming on January 25 - but that was against Bologna's next opponents, Empoli, in a 1-1 draw.

The La Plata-born forward, who was recently called up to the senior Argentina national team, was brought on at half-time of his side's 2-0 defeat to Atalanta on April 13 and shot three times, forcing a couple of saves from La Dea goalkeeper Marco Carnesecchi. He then started their next game, Sunday's 1-0 win against Inter, before being taken off in the 70th minute for eventual matchwinner Orsolini.

It's difficult to predict what team Italiano will select on Thursday, but I think Dominguez has a solid chance of starting, with Dan Ndoye potentially being held in reserve ahead of Monday's trip to Udine. His younger colleague would probably benefit more from another start, and with a three-goal lead, Bologna can afford to take a few chances with their line-up.

This might just be the perfect game for Dominguez to find his feet again in front of goal, and he's not been far away in recent weeks, so I'm taking him on at 15/8 against a side he has already scored past this season.

Booking Points Over/Under +32.5 - Under 32.5 @ 1/1

Bologna and Empoli have already played each other twice this season, and under 32.5 booking points was a winning selection both times.

In their 1-1 league draw, three Empoli players were shown a yellow card, with each amounting to 10 booking points. No Bologna players were booked, meaning there were just 30 booking points awarded.

Then, in the first leg of their Coppa Italia semi-final tie on April 1, there were no cards given, and so zero booking points, despite 31 fouls being committed.

With the hosts in a commanding lead, and Empoli's focus on Serie A, where they are battling relegation, I don't see a particularly feisty contest unfolding on Thursday, and thus under 32.5 booking points looks an attractive proposition at EVS.

Offers

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