Napoli vs Bologna
With three matches to play in the Italian top flight, Antonio Conte’s Napoli have second place in their grasp and, on Monday they may have a chance to complete the job if they come out on the right side of Serie A: Napoli vs Bologna.
Inter Milan have already scooped the Scudetto, with a nice margin of comfort, so for 2025 champions Napoli, second place is the target. Third placed AC Milan are under pressure and they face Atalanta this weekend but I Rossoneri should secure Champions League football after missing out altogether last season, while Juventus currently sit in fourth and have plenty of work to do.
If Napoli win against Bologna; and either fifth placed Roma, away to Parma or Juventus, away to Lecce, fail to take three points then Napoli’s ticket to Europe’s top competition is booked. And with Bologna anchored in mid table the hosts have a big chance to get their part of the job done.
Both teams played out a goalless draw last week, Napoli away to sixth placed Como, a result which strengthened their Champions League claims while Bologna drew at home to Cagliari.
Talking Points
De Bruyne return came too late for Napoli
I Nerazzurri have a 12-point lead at the top of the table but that lead has stretched quickly over the past couple of months. In mid-term both Napoli and Milan were snapping at Inter’s heels, swapping the top spot regularly, but as the season progressed both challengers got heavy legs. Last summer there was great excitement in Naples when Kevin De Bruyne arrived from Manchester City and the Belgian superstar started well. But he has missed most of the campaign with injury, and Napoli discovered how much they missed him when he scored in the 4-0 win over Cremonese in Napoli’s last home game. 2025 Player of the Year Scott McTominay was on target too with his ninth goal of the campaign, and the two former Premier League stars bring world class quality to the Napoli midfield alongside Slovakian enforcer Stanislav Lobotka who sits in behind the creative players.
Conte favours a 3-4-2-1 formation with Rasmus Hojlund leading the attack, with ten league goals for the season so far, and a three man defence with wide men covering the flanks at both ends of the pitch. But it is De Bruyne’s mercurial fluidity which gives Napoli the ability to create a goal from nothing, with a sublime pass or a clinical finish, and at 34 years of age there is still plenty in his legs…if he can stay fit. Just look across to Milan, at I Rossoneri’s 40 year old creative midfielder Luka Modric for inspiration, and De Bruyne could make his mark next season.
Are the Bologna boys on the beach?
In ninth place in the Serie A table, 13 points behind Como in sixth and 21 above 18th placed Cremonese, Bologna aren’t going anywhere fast; and, while it may be a little disrespectful to suggest the players have already packed their beach towels and sunscreen, a return of one point from their last three league games, after a 4-0 Europa League thrashing at the hands of Aston Villa suggests that motivation is in short supply for I Rossoblu.
Manager Vincenzo Italiano favours a flat back four, with two sitting midfielders and a creative three in support of striker Jens Odegaard. Bologna have gone four games without scoring a goal and the manager may bring back either Riccardo Orsolini or Santiago Castro, who have scored eight goals and seven respectively, alongside Federico Bernardeschi behind the main striker.
History
With 22 wins to nine I Partenopei have bossed the head-to-head Napoli vs Bologna results and in Naples they have won 14 to four, including a comfortable 3-0 victory last term. When the two teams met in Bologna in November I Rossoblu came out on top, winning 2-0 thanks to goals from Thijs Dallinga and Jhon Lucumi, and that result denied Napoli the chance to go top.
In terms of recent form Napoli have won three, drawn two and lost one of the last six games while Bologna have won one, drawn one and lost four of their last six outings. Let’s see how that reflects in the pre-match Napoli vs Bologna betting odds.
Betting Tip
Napoli are the red-hot favourites to win this clash at SBOTOP odds of 1.50 while Bologna are out at 6.00 and the draw is 3.95. The visitors only have pride to play for whereas for the hosts, this match is a crucial one to win to ensure Champions League football next season and take a firm grip on second place, and a 2-0 home win, priced at 6.50, is the most likely outcome.
A SHORT EXPLANATION ON HOW OUR (⭐) BETS ARE WORTH:
⭐⭐⭐= €20 (HIGHLY CONFIDENT)
⭐⭐= €10 (CONFIDENT)
⭐= €5 (SOMEWHAT CONFIDENT)
Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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