Bologna vs Freiburg Prediction: Germans can snatch something from Italian job

Bologna have ground to make up when they welcome Freiburg to the Stadio Renata Dall'Ara in the league phase of the Uefa Europa League on Thursday (17:45 BST, TNT Sports 6). The Italians will be looking to get on the board after losing their opener 1-0 at Aston Villa, while Freiburg are three points better off courtesy of a narrow 2-1 home success over Swiss side Basel.

Below are my Bologna vs Freiburg predictions, supported by all the latest team news and match odds.

Team News

Bologna had been hoping to welcome back centre-back Nicolo Casale and striker Ciro Immobile at Lecce at the weekend but neither made the squad.

Football Odds

Freiburg right-back Lukas Kubler came off injured in Sunday's 1-1 draw at home to Hoffenheim, so Philipp Treu stands by to replace him. Johan Manzambi, suspended at the weekend, should return in the No.10 role in Johan Schuster's preferred 4-2-3-1 set-up.

Today's Football Fixtures

Bologna vs Freiburg Odds

Bologna have won both their home games this season and are 1/1 (50%) to complete the hat-trick. Freiburg have won three of their last four and are 11/4 to triumph at the Renato Dall'Ara.

Both clubs drew their games at the weekend, and it's 12/5 they share the spoils on Thursday.

Freiburg Draw No Bet @ 7/4

Bologna would certainly expect to improve on their tepid opener at Villa Park last Thursday, though that still doesn't guarantee they can see off Freiburg at home in their second Europa League showdown.

Vincenzo Italiano's men offered little at Villa, losing 1-0, and were off again at the weekend, this time to Serie A's bottom club Lecce, where they drew 2-2.

Their two wins this term have come at home - an unimpressive 1-0 triumph over Como and a 2-1 win over Genoa - and they sit ninth in the table.

Freiburg head south in decent form, having won three in a row prior to their weekend 1-1 draw with Hoffenheim.

Their Italian international, Vincenzo Grifo, is key to everything good Freiburg do, and they will be looking to build on a hard-earned 2-1 win over Basel to kickstart their Europa League adventure.

Freiburg's last away game was a 3-0 win at Werder Bremen - this is a step up, but one they can handle.

Over 9.5 Corners @ 1/1

At home and under pressure after losing at Villa, expect a positive approach from Bologna, which may not yield a win, but should also help ensure there are a fair few corners in the game.

Their two home games this term, narrow wins against Como and Genoa, have produced a total of 15 Bologna corners.

Their game at Villa - where they were not that impressive - saw 11 corners.

At the weekend, Freiburg notched up six corners at home to Hoffenheim, who carded eight in a match make-up of 14.

Offers

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