Empoli vs Bologna Prediction: Betting Preview

Here we have an Empoli vs Bologna prediction betting preview as Empoli’s slide down the table continued at the weekend. Their 3-1 defeat at Inter Milan last weekend means it’s just one win in their last 10 games which has seen them slip from 11th and six points clear of the drop, to 15th and only one point clear. The defeats have been more prevalent of late with six in eight as their form has deserted them even against sides around them in the relegation battle. Bologna’s season meanwhile goes from strength to strength, as they have suffered just three defeats in 20 games all season, leaving them just six points off a Champions League place with a game in hand.

Empoli vs Bologna Prediction 1: Goals, Goals, Goals

Italy, Serie A, Saturday, January 25th, 19:45 (UK)

Empoli started the season in miserable form scoring just eight goals whilst only conceding nine in their first 11 games with a decent record of W3 D5 L3 with an average total goals figure of just 1.55 per-game. They were the joint 2nd lowest scorers whilst had the joint 3rd best defence. However, since early November, things have really turned against them where they have gone on a run of W1 D3 L6 having scored 12 goals (=10th best) but conceded 19 (=2nd worst). It means that over those 10 games an overall 31 goals have come in their matches at an average of 3.1 goals per-game. Six of their last eight games have gone over 2.5 goals.

It’s not as if their last 10 games have been more difficult – four have come against the bottom four and six against the bottom half. Seven of their first 11 games were against top half opposition so they really have performed badly against the lesser sides. One constant shining light this season has been on-loan Inter Milan striker Sebastiano Esposito who is Empoli’s top scorer with 10 goals in just 14 starts across league and cup. He can definitely worry this Bologna defence, given he averages 3.1 shots per-90, including 2.3 inside the penalty area.

Bologna are having a fantastic season sat in 7th considering they lost Joshua Zirkzee, Riccardo Calafiori, Alexis Saelemaekers, Victor Kristiansen and of course manager Thiago Motta last summer. It looked like it was going to be a long season for them when they only won one of their first 11 games but it was padded out with a lot of draws, seven in total. And they have only lost three games all season in Serie A – the joint third best record.

They’re unbeaten against Inter, Atalanta, Juventus, Roma and Fiorentina as well as against Dortmund and Benfica in the Champions League to show they are really a force to be reckoned with. Wide forward Riccardo Orsolini has continued his excellent form from the last few seasons and now has 28 goals in his last 54 starts and 20 year-old striker Santiago Castro has stepped up to fill the void of Zirkzee with seven goals so far this season.

It feels like after all the changes in personnel over the summer, things have clicked and goals have been a common theme over the last couple of months. 11 of their last 14 matches across all competitions have seen over 2.5 goals and given under 2.5 is priced at 1.61, we have to back overs at the prices.

• Empoli vs Bologna Prediction 1: Over 2.5 goals (TRACKED BET)
• Best Odds: 2.30
• Bookmaker: bet365
• Stake: 7/10 (TRACKED BET)

Empoli vs Bologna Prediction odds via bet365 as at 12:00, January 23rd, 2025. Odds may now differ.

Empoli vs Bologna Injuries, Team News and Possible Lineups Prediction: Absent attackers

Empoli remain without wonderkid striker Pietro Pellegri for the rest of the season following his cruciate ligament tear last month. Midfielder Tino Anjorin looks likely to miss out again as he has done since the beginning of 2025. On-loan Roma attacker Ola Solbakken is another who continues to miss out with a shoulder injury. For Bologna midfielder Michel Aebischer is close to a return following an adductor issue but it’s likely this one will come too soon for him. Riccardo Orsolini limped off during Bologna’s 2-1 win over Dortmund in the week and could be out for a month but replacement Samuel Iling-Junior scored the winner.

Empoli possible starting lineup:
Vasquez; Goglichidze, Ismaji, Viti; Gyasi, Grassi, Maleh, Pezzella; Esposito, Colombo, Cacace

Bologna possible starting lineup:
Skorupski; Posch, Beukema, Lucimi, Miranda; Ferguson, Freuler; Iling-Junior, Odgaard, Ndoye; Castro

Match Stats: Raining Goals

• Empoli have lost 5 of their last 6 matches in Serie A
• Bologna have lost only 3 Serie A matches all season
• Bologna have scored at least 2 goals in their last 5 matches in Serie A
• There have been over 2.5 goals in 6 of Empoli’s last 8 games in Serie A
• There have been over 2.5 goals scored in 8 of Bologna’s last 10 games in Serie A

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