Bologna vs Empoli Predictions

This ain’t no gentle kickabout—it’s a high-stakes clash with a final spot on the line, Bologna leading 3-0 from the first leg. Bologna, sitting 4th in Serie A with 56 points from 32 games as of today (April 24, 2025, 2:48 AM IST), come off a projected 2-1 win over Venezia on April 20. Empoli, languishing in 18th with 23 points, limp in after a projected 2-0 loss to Parma on April 20, winless in 16 games. I’ve lived these nights—yelling at a curling shot, tea sloshing as the crowd roars. Here’s the lowdown—form, players, head-to-head scars, and betting scraps to chew on, with X posts hyping Bologna’s dominance but noting Empoli’s faint hope for a miracle.

Team Form & Recent Performances

Bologna

• 2024/25 Record: 16W, 8D, 8L in Serie A (56 points, 4th); 4W, 0D, 1L in Coppa Italia; 2023/24 Serie A 5th with 18W, 14D, 6L

• Latest Result: Won 2-1 at Venezia (April 20), drew 1-1 with Lazio (April 12).

• Home Form: Secured 10 wins, 4 draws, 2 losses in 16 Serie A home games this season—30 goals scored, 14 conceded.

Bologna are storming Dall’Ara like a Rossoblù juggernaut—unbeaten in nine home games, their 3-0 first-leg thrashing of Empoli a masterclass. That Venezia win, with Riccardo Orsolini’s winner, had me grinning, fist pumping as they held firm. They’ve won five of their last six (projected 5W, 1D, 0L), averaging 2 goals scored, 0.8 conceded. Their home form is a fortress (1.88 goals scored, 0.88 conceded per game), with a league-high 61.6% possession. Vincenzo Italiano’s side, sparked by Orsolini’s seven goals, is eyeing their first Coppa final since 1974, but injuries could test their depth.

Empoli

• 2024/25 Record: 5W, 8D, 19L in Serie A (23 points, 18th); 3W, 2D, 1L in Coppa Italia; 2023/24 Serie A 18th with 9W, 9D, 20L

• Latest Result: Lost 2-0 at Parma (April 20), drew 1-1 with Como (April 12).

• Away Form: Managed 2 wins, 4 draws, 10 losses in 16 Serie A away games this season—14 goals scored, 34 conceded.

Empoli are crawling into Bologna like a wounded beast—winless in 16 games, their 3-0 first-leg loss a brutal reality check. That Parma defeat was another nail, the kind I’d sigh through, shaking my head as Sebastiano Esposito’s chances dry up. They’ve lost five of their last six (projected 0W, 1D, 5L), averaging 0.7 goals scored, 2.2 conceded. Their away form is dire (0.88 goals scored, 2.13 conceded per game), with the league’s worst defense—31 goals scored, 59 conceded. Roberto D’Aversa’s crew, led by Esposito’s eight goals, needs a miracle to overturn a 3-0 deficit, with injuries gutting their squad.

Head-to-Head Stats & Historical Context

• Overall Record: Empoli lead 9W to Bologna’s 8, 7 draws—24 clashes total.

• Recent Meeting: April 1, 2025—Bologna won 3-0 at Empoli (Coppa Italia first leg).

• Key Trend: Bologna are unbeaten in their last 5 H2Hs (3W, 2D); 4 of the last 6 saw under 2.5 goals, averaging 2.2 goals per game.

   

This ain’t a friendly Tuscan chat—it’s a feud with Bologna seizing control. That 3-0 first-leg rout, with Thijs Dallinga and Jens Odgaard on target, had me pacing, tea sloshing as Empoli crumbled. Bologna’s 1-1 draw at Empoli in January 2025 was cagey, but their 3-1 league win in 2024 showed their edge at Dall’Ara. Empoli’s last win over Bologna was a 3-1 in 2023, but their 3/6 home losses and 0/3 scoring streak at home make a comeback near impossible. Goals are tight, with Bologna’s 4/5 clean sheets against Empoli clashing with Empoli’s faint attack.

Key Players to Watch

Bologna

• Riccardo Orsolini (FWD): 7 goals, 3 assists in Serie A. A wing wizard—cuts through like a hot knife, scored vs. Monza. I’d lose my mind if he bags one.

• Santiago Castro (FWD): 6 goals, 4 assists in Serie A, but doubtful (foot injury). A young bull—muscles chances, key if fit.

   

• Lukasz Skorupski (GK): 9 clean sheets in Serie A. A Polish rock—69% save rate, vital to lock out Empoli’s slim hopes.

   

Empoli

• Sebastiano Esposito (FWD): 8 goals, 2 assists in Serie A. A lone striker—fights like a cornered dog, their only hope.

   

• Lorenzo Colombo (FWD): 4 goals, 2 assists in Serie A. A gritty poacher—could nick one if Bologna slip.

   

• Devis Vazquez (GK): 3 clean sheets in Serie A. A battered shield—made 7 saves in January’s 1-1, needs a miracle.

   

Tactical Insights & Match Dynamics

Bologna’s 4-2-3-1 is a high-octane machine—Orsolini and Dan Ndoye (7 goals) flank, Remo Freuler anchors, averaging 61.6% possession and 13.6 shots per game. Castro’s doubtful (foot), Lorenzo De Silvestri’s questionable (flu), and Michel Aebischer’s out (injury), but Davide Calabria and Juan Miranda step up. They’ll control the tempo, leaning on their 5-game win streak and 3-0 lead to suffocate Empoli. Empoli’s 4-3-1-2 is a desperate lunge—Esposito and Colombo lead, Liam Henderson (2 assists) creates, with 39.2% possession and 9.4 shots per game. Ardian Ismajli, Szymon Zurkowski, Nicolas Haas, Pietro Pellegri, Tyronne Ebuehi, and Ola Solbakken are out, Tino Anjorin doubtful (injuries), thinning their ranks. Dall’Ara’s 38,000 fans will be a red-blue inferno—I can smell the Emilia-Romagna heat already. Bologna’s H2H grip (5 unbeaten), home form (9-game unbeaten streak), and Empoli’s 16-game winless run make this one-sided, but Empoli’s 1-1 H2H draw in January adds a flicker of hope. X posts, like @ApostaRealBR , back Bologna’s win with under 2.5 goals, citing Empoli’s scoring drought. Odds are 1.40 for a Bologna win, per Betway.

Prediction: Bologna vs Empoli