Bologna vs Roma Prediction: Italians collide in Europe

The Uefa Europa League last-16 draw has thrown up an all-Italian tie, as Bologna host Roma on Thursday night (17:45 GMT, TNT Sports 3). 

The prize for the winner is a quarter-final spot against Lille or Aston Villa, with Bologna looking to continue their first run into the knockout stages of a European competition in 26 years. Below you can find my Bologna vs Roma predictions featuring team news and more. 

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Team News

Bologna’s manager Vincenzo Italiano has received a boost as both Torbjorn Heggem and Juan Miranda look set to return to the matchday squad having returned to full training. 

Added to that, midfielder Remo Freuler is available after his suspension, while experienced winger Federico Bernardeschi may come into the XI for this European tie. Former Norwich City winger Jon Rowe should start on the left, with Santiago Castro set to lead the line once more. 

Meanwhile, Bryan Cristante should return to Roma’s midfield having come off the bench at half-time in the 2-1 defeat to Genoa. Up top they are a little short of options with Paulo Dybala, Evan Ferguson and Artem Dovbyk all sidelined with various issues. 

Former Aston Villa man Donyell Malen will start up top again, having recently won Serie A’s Player of the Month award. Gianluca Mancini is suspended, while Wesley returns from his one-match ban. 

Football Odds

Bologna vs Roma Odds

Bologna are priced at 2/1 to win this game, while Roma are 11/8 to win this first leg on the road. A draw is 21/10, over 2.5 goals is 5/4, BTTS is 1/1 and Malen is the favourite to score first at 9/2. 

Nikola Moro, who ranks second in this season's Europa League for chances created (21) and passes in the final third (142).

Under 2.5 goals @ 4/7

First legs of European ties rarely deliver loads of entertainment - although Tottenham’s calamity in Madrid on Tuesday night was the obvious exception. But when we throw together two well-matched Italian sides who won’t want to throw anything away in the first 90 minutes, I think we should see a stodgy affair.

Roma have been good for goals this season, but recently Bolgona have been rather dry. Four of their last five games have ended in 1-0 wins, including both legs of their Europa League play-off with Brann. A solid defence and a Roma side that should be happy to take things back to the capital should mean a tight encounter. 

Today's Football Fixtures

Roma to win to nil @ 13/5

Let’s push things slightly further with our second pick. The Serie A table shows 12 points between these two, with Roma in fifth and Bologna down in eighth. Roma are favourites for a reason and given Bologna haven’t torn teams apart recently, scoring five goals in five games despite the good form - I think the visitors can keep a clean sheet. 

Roma beat Bologna 1-0 at home in August, and I think we can see a repeat here, despite both teams scoring in three of the last four Roma matches. 

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