Bologna Faces Empoli in Coppa Italia Semi-Final Second Leg

Bologna, Italy – Bologna FC 1909 will host Empoli FC on April 24, 2025, at the Stadio Renato Dall'Ara for the second leg of their Coppa Italia semi-final. Bologna holds a commanding 3-0 lead from the first leg, where they triumphed at the Stadio Carlo Castellani.

In the first leg, Riccardo Orsolini opened the scoring, followed by Thijs Dallinga, who netted a brace to solidify Bologna’s advantage. The match marked a significant moment for Bologna, bringing them close to their first Coppa Italia final since 1974.

Bologna’s recent form has been impressive, highlighted by a dramatic 1-0 victory against Serie A leaders Inter Milan last weekend, where Orsolini scored with a stunning bicycle kick. Currently, Bologna sits in 4th place in Serie A, with aspirations for a Champions League spot.

Conversely, Empoli is trapped in a relegation struggle, sitting 19th in Serie A and without a league win in 17 matches. Their sole victory this year came during the Coppa Italia quarter-finals against Juventus.

Bologna’s manager, Vincenzo Italiano, is expected to rotate his squad ahead of the upcoming Serie A match against Udinese. They will be missing key players, including goalkeeper Lukasz Skorupski and defender Davide Calabria due to injuries.

Injury concerns plague Empoli as well, with notable absences including Youssef Maleh and Christian Kouame. However, Liam Henderson returns from suspension to bolster their midfield.

Bologna has historically performed well against Empoli, remaining unbeaten in their last five encounters. The first leg statistics showed Bologna comfortably dominating the match, with an expected goals tally of 2.02 compared to Empoli’s 0.32.

As the match approaches, Bologna’s attacking threat will be led by Orsolini, who has been involved in four goals in his last three Coppa Italia appearances. Meanwhile, Empoli will rely on players like Lorenzo Colombo to generate offensive support.

The match is set to kick off at 20:00 local time, and anticipation builds as both teams prepare for this critical encounter. Bologna aims to consolidate their lead and secure a place in the Coppa Italia final, while Empoli seeks a remarkable comeback amid their league struggles.