Sunday, 6th February – 11:30 (GMT) – LIVE on ESPN
Just one defeat in their last six games in Serie A has seen Bologna rocket up the table and put a healthy margin of breathing space between them and the bottom three. Meanwhile Catania, who travel to the Renato Dall’Ara on Saturday ahead of their midday clash with the Rossoblu on Sunday, find themselves in a right mess after going their last six league games without winning.
Even though Bologna have done tremendously well to to put five points between them and the relegation zone, this fixture remains a definite relegation six-pointer, as a resounding victory for the away side would be enough to leapfrog their in-form hosts. The latter does seem very unlikely, though, seeing as the Sicilians haven’t won away from home in Serie A all season (W0 D4 L7).
Meanwhile Bologna have been beaten only once at home all term, and even then only a team of the calibre of AC Milan, the Scudetto pacesetters, were able to tarnish what is otherwise a remarkable record on home soil for the Rossoblu (W5 D4 L1).
Both these two sides were in action during the week, although the pair of them enjoyed contrasting fortunes. Bologna were out in Udine displaying their resilient qualities away at Udinese, who are one of the country’s in-form sides at present having recently beaten Inter Milan on home turf, Bologna drawing 1-1 with the Champions League hopefuls. A creditable result which only complimented their terrific 3-1 victory over Lazio at home a week ago.
Catania, on the other hand, registered just a point from their visit to Cesena, a side positioned directly below them in the table. While it wasn’t the most ideal of results, it did at least stop the rot. Previously, the Sicilians had lost three on the spin away from home, shipping nine in process. However, their long, outstanding drought was only extended as Diego Simeone, the newly installed manager of Catania, saw his side go their sixth match in succession without winning, not that the Argentine was at the helm for all six, mind.
Nevertheless, a demoralising sequence of results and it has taken its toll on every member of the team, although it would appear the strikers have come out worse off. Maxi Lopez’s fifth strike of the season in midweek was only his side’s first in nearly four hours, and only their third in five matches.
Considering how contrasting their recent fortunes have been, not to mention the sizeable gulf in difference between their respective records at home and away, Bologna look an absolute steal at the odds. Formidable at home, as well as possessing a striker bang in the form in former Ajax and Juventus hitman Marco Di Vaio, who sits third in the Serie A scoring charts with 14 goals for the term, you’re almost beginning to think they’re too good to be true against a Catania side who have been woeful on their travels, who have scored just seven times outside of Catania all season.
The fact this is a relegation six-pointer does effectively nullify a lot of the form, as while Bologna are full of confidence and buoyed by a couple of incredible recent results, Catania will know full well that their remaining away fixtures are going to be far more arduous than a trip to Bologna, albeit the Rossoblu boasting a awe-inspiring record at home this season, while defeat would also leave them wide-open to spending a stint inside the drop zone. So there is a small chance of the Sicilians actually turning up on Sunday. Nonetheless, the home side appear far too strong on paper, but if the visitors do make a fist of things then perhaps it’s worth having some sort of insurance (Both Teams to Score etc).
Selection(s):
Bologna to WIN @ 2.10 WilliamHill
Marco Di Vaio to Score @ 2.63 Boylesports
Insurance Policy:
Both Teams to Score @ 2.00 WilliamHill
Pointers
– Bologna have lost just one of ten Serie A fixtures at home this season (W5 D4 L1).
– Catania haven’t won away from home in the league all season (W0 D4 L7).
– Bologna striker Marco Di Vaio has scored 14 times in Serie A this term, and in five of his last six appearances at home (In that one he did fail in he missed a penalty).
– Catania share the unwanted honour of having scored the fewest amount of away goals in Serie A (7).
