Bologna vs Brann Prediction: Norwegians to push hard

It's advantage Bologna in their two-legged Uefa Europa League knockout phase play-off tie with SK Brann after the Italian side's 1-0 win in Norway last week. Thursday's second leg (20:00 GMT, TNT Sports 5) comes from the Stadio Renato Dall'Ara, where the hosts will be expected to earn progression to the last 16 of the competition, but the visitors will be buoyed by their goalless draw there in the league phase earlier this season.

Below are my Bologna vs Brann predictions, featuring the latest team news and match odds.

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Team News

Bologna boss Vincenzo Italiano may be without Charalampos Lykogiannis (hamstring), Benjamin Dominguez (illness), Torbjorn Heggem and Juan Miranda (both muscle) due to injury.

Football Odds

Saevar Atli Magnusson (knee), Sakarias Opsahl (foot), Eggert Aron Gudmundsson, Jonas Torsvik and Niklas Castro (all unspecified) could be sidelined for Feyr Alexandersson’s Brann.

Bologna vs Brann Odds

Bologna are 4/9 favourites to triumph in regulation time on Thursday, implying a 69.2% probability of success, with Brann 11/2, and the draw priced at 16/5.

The Italians are 1/25 in the To Win Tie market, with their Norwegian counterparts at 9/1.

Away Team Total Corners Over/Under +3.5 - Over 3.5 @ 11/10

I successfully tipped over 10.5 corners at 11/8 in last week's first leg, with exactly 11 taken, seven by Brann, and four by Bologna.

The same bet may appeal this Thursday, but I like the look of Over 3.5 Away Corners at 11/10.

Today's Football Fixtures

Bologna can afford to draw at home, while Brann need to win on their travels, so expect the visitors to 'go for it' in Italy, especially towards the end of the game.

The Norwegians took three corners in their goalless league-phase draw at the Stadio Renato Dall'Ara in November, although all three corners were awarded after Lykogiannis' 23rd-minute dismissal.

This time around, though, they will be going for the win for different reasons, so we should see them applying pressure to the Bologna back line, making the price on over 3.5 corners rather appealing.

Bologna have conceded at least four corners their last three games across all competitions, including seven at home to Udinese on Monday.

Price Boosts - Lewis Ferguson (BOL) To Receive a Card @ 3/1 7/2

Bologna midfielder Lewis Ferguson committed three fouls in the first leg, managing to avoid a booking before being brought off in the 75th minute for Simon Sohm.

After remaining rooted to the bench for the duration of his side's 1-0 win over Udinese on Monday, I expect the Scotland international to be restored to I Rossoblu's starting XI against Brann.

The 26-year-old is averaging 2.8 and 2.2 fouls per 90 minutes, respectively, in the Europa League and Serie A this season, and he's been booked five times across the two competitions - once in Europe, and four times in the Italian top flight.

In a high-stakes game like Thursday's, Ferguson is a player who could get himself intro trouble with a tactical foul, so I'm backing Betfred's Price Boost here.

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