Bologna vs Lazio Prediction: Cards out for cup clash

Bologna and Lazio, both sucker-punched deep into stoppage time in Serie A on Sunday, losing 1-0 to Parma and drawing 2-2 at Juventus, respectively, face off at the Stadio Renato Dall'Ara on Wednesday (20:00 GMT, Premier Sports 2) in the Coppa Italia quarter-finals. The winner of the tie will advance to the final four, where Atalanta, who beat Juventus 3-0 last week, lie in wait.

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

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Team News

Bologna boss Vincenzo Italiano is likely to be without left-back Charalampos Lykogiannis (hamstring) and right-back Lorenzo De Silvestri (abdominal) for Wednesday's cup tie.

Football Odds

As for Maurizio Sarri's Lazio, Mattia Zaccagni (abdominal), Manuel Lazzari calf), Samuel Gigot (ankle) and Toma Basic (unspecified) could all miss out.

Bologna vs Lazio Odds

Bologna are 11/10 to triumph in regulation time on Wednesday, implying a 47.6% probability of success, while Lazio are 11/4, or a 26.7% chance, to win in 90 minutes, with the draw, which would send the tie to a penalty shootout, is offered at 21/10.

The hosts are 4/7 to win the tie by any means, with the visitors 5/4 in the same market.

Player to Receive a Card - Juan Miranda (BOL) @ 13/5

With Lykogiannis, who started Sunday's league defeat to Parma, sidelined, I'm expecting Bologna left-back Juan Miranda, who came on for the Greek in the 68th minute on the weekend, to get the nod from the off against Lazio.

The 26-year-old, who is averaging a foul per 90 minutes in both Serie A and the Uefa Europa League this season, has been booked seven times, five in the Italian top flight, and twice in Europe's second-tier club competition.

Today's Football Fixtures

Should the Spaniard start on Wednesday, he's likely to be marking either Gustav Isaksen or Matteo Cancellieri, who are averaging 3.4 and four fouls won per 90, respectively, in Serie A this season.

Miranda knows just how slippery Cancellieri, in particular, can be, as he fouled the Italian twice in December's 1-1 league draw at the Stadio Olimpico, despite the Lazio winger only coming on at the start of the second half, and the Bologna full-back was booked for his second concession of a free-kick.

At 13/5, I think we're getting great value on a Miranda card here.

Booking Points Over/Under +52.5 - Over 52.5 @ 11/10

All the conditions are there for a card-crazy cup clash, in my opinion.

First of all, a place in the semi-final is up for grabs, so the players should be right up for this one, particularly as both teams are struggling in Serie A right now. For Bologna and Lazio, the best route to European competition next season may be via the Coppa Italia, rather than the league.

Secondly, there are several players on either side who are well-versed in drawing fouls. I've already mentioned Cancellieri and Isaksen for Lazio, while Bologna's squad contains four players, Nicolo Cambiaghi (four), Jonathan Rowe (2.8), Benjamin Dominguez (2.4) and Santiago Castro (2.1), averaging over two fouls drawn per 90 in Serie A this term.

In December's head-to-head, six yellow cards and one red card, amounting to 85 booking points, were awarded by the referee, and the last six meetings between the two teams have seen at least 50 booking points produced, with half (three) going over 52.5.