Bologna vs Hellas Verona Prediction: Motta’s men to keep run rolling on

Four straight wins has Bologna knocking loudly on the door of the Serie A top-four ahead of the Red and Blues’ Friday night clash (KO, 19:45) with Hellas Verona at Stadio Renato Dall’Ara.

Thiago Motta’s side have scored 12 goals in February so far, and they are now level on points with fourth-placed Atalanta, who face four of last season’s top eight teams in their next four fixtures.

The chance is there for Bologna to streak ahead in their bid to qualify for the Champions League for the first time in their history, starting on Friday, when they face a relegation-threatened Verona side who haven’t won away from home since August 19.

Team News

There are no fresh injury concerns for Bologna, who are still without long-term absentee Adama Soumaoro. Therefore, an unchanged starting XI is likely.

Juan Manuel Cruz is out for the visitors, who could also stick to the same line-up which began a creditable 2-2 draw with Juventus last Saturday.

Karol Swiderski and Ruben Vinagre are possible starters if Verona head coach Marco Baroni does opt to switch things up.

Match Odds

The home side are 4/7 to win a fifth-straight game, with the draw – which landed in this fixture last season – priced at 3/1. A victory for the visitors, meanwhile, can be backed at 5/1.

Four of the last six Serie A meetings between these sides have seen both teams score, and it’s 11/10 for BTTS – Yes on Friday night. Over 2.5 goals is the same price (11/10).

Bologna to win and over 2.5 goals @ 7/4

The Red and Blues are simply an irrepressible force at home. They’ve won their last three at Stadio Renato Dall’Ara, scoring 10 goals in the process, and no side in Serie A has collected as many points at home as Bologna (32 from 13 games) have this season.

Bologna actually only won one of their first three league games there, but have collected a mammoth 28 points from the last 30 available on their own patch.

Verona, meanwhile, are 18th in Serie A, 25 points below their next opponents, and have picked up just six points from a possible 39 on the road this term. Their only away success came in the first gameweek of the season, and they have lost at all six of the current top-nine sides they have faced this season (they go away to Atalanta and Lazio in April).

They also have a defeat at Stadio Renato Dall’Ara to their name this season, having lost 2-0 to Bologna in the Coppa Italia in October.

There could be a few goals in this one as well with at least three goals scored in five of Bologna’s last six matches and five of Verona’s last seven.

Lewis Ferguson to score anytime @ 12/5

The goals have dried up a bit since Christmas for the Scotland international, who has found the net just once in his last seven league outings.

However, he hasn’t been shy to shoot, trying his luck twice at Lazio last Sunday and registering four attempts – two of which hit the target – against Fiorentina in the game prior.

Four of his five goals this season have come at Stadio Renato Dall’Ara, and this could be the perfect game for him to get back his goalscoring touch.

12/5 looks a generous price considering the amount of goals Bologna have been getting as a team recently.

Check out the rest of our Football Betting Tips here.