Bologna Eyes European Qualification Against Struggling Torino

Bologna, Italy – Bologna is set to host Torino in a crucial Serie A match on Friday, February 14, 2025, at 7:45 PM UK time. Both teams are aiming for a victory to boost their hopes of European qualification in the current season.

Currently sitting in eighth place, Bologna comes into the match on the back of an impressive five-match unbeaten streak in Serie A and a recent victory in the Coppa Italia quarter-finals against Atalanta. However, their last outing ended in a disappointing 0-0 draw against Lecce, a team battling relegation. Despite this, Bologna aims to extend its unbeaten run to seven league games for the first time since 2012.

Coach Vincenzo Italiano‘s squad has so far lost only one home match at Stadio Dall'Ara this season. They have also fared well against Torino historically, winning three of their last five encounters, including a 2-0 win at Torino earlier this season. Thus, they will be hoping to continue this run of good form.

On the other hand, Torino is struggling in 11th place, having managed only one victory since the beginning of the year, resulting in eight winless games away from home. Their latest match ended in a 1-1 draw against Genoa, where they had opportunities to take all three points but failed to hold onto their lead after an own goal. Coach Ivan Juric‘s side remains 10 points behind Bologna, which has added pressure on them to secure a win to challenge for a top-half finish.

Both teams have endured injury crises. Bologna’s star forward Riccardo Orsolini is sidelined, and midfielder Lewis Ferguson is also recovering but might return to the pitch soon. Santiago Castro, Bologna’s top scorer, is anticipated to have a crucial role against Torino’s defense, which has struggled this season.

Torino’s lineup will miss several key players due to injury. However, new signings Cristiano Biraghi and Cesare Casadei could make an impact, especially with Casadei potentially making his full debut in light of a one-match ban for fellow midfielder. Notable forward Che Adams, who has been pivotal in Torino’s attack, will aim to build on his recent goal-scoring form, as he scored a brace in a previous match.

Statistically, both teams have played the most minutes at level terms in Serie A this season. This game promises a tightly contested matchup as Bologna has an edge in attack. Meanwhile, Torino is undefeated in their last five away fixtures, lending some confidence as they look to break Bologna’s resilience.

According to analysts, Bologna is the favorite to win with a predicted 78.7% chance of achieving victory, while Torino’s chances stand at roughly 1.1%. Nevertheless, Torino could surprise given Bologna’s occasional struggle against resilient teams.

The expected starting lineups on Friday are as follows:

Bologna: Skorupski; Holm, Beukema, Lucumi, Miranda; Freuler, Moro; Ndoye, Fabbian, Dominguez; Castro.

Torino: Milinkovic-Savic; Walukiewicz, Maripan, Coco, Sosa; Casadei, Linetty; Lazaro, Vlasic, Karamoh; Adams.

With both teams eager to fortify their standings in Serie A, Friday’s clash at Stadio Dall’Ara is set to be a significant one for both Bologna and Torino.