Bologna made headlines last season when they claimed a stunning victory over AC Milan in the Coppa Italia final, and now the Rossoblu are set to begin their title defense this Thursday against Serie A rivals Parma in an all-Emilian clash at the Renato Dall’Ara stadium.
The matchup comes at an intriguing time for Bologna, who recently had their impressive 12-match unbeaten streak broken with a 3-1 home loss to Cremonese on Monday. Despite the defeat, Bologna showed promise, creating numerous chances that illustrated their potential, even if the scoreboard suggested otherwise. Fans can expect a strong response from the team as they aim to regain their winning form.
Bologna’s recent history against Parma leans heavily in their favor, having secured a convincing 3-1 victory in their previous encounter in November. Parma’s struggles away from home this season have been evident, with just one win from six attempts on the road, culminating in three defeats and only three goals scored. This record does not inspire confidence as they prepare to face a formidable Bologna side.
For those wishing to follow the action, the match will be broadcast live on Paramount+, CBS Sports Golazo Network, and Amazon Prime Video in the United States. Fans overseas looking to stream the game are advised to utilize a virtual private network (VPN) to access their usual services securely.
The match is scheduled to kick off at 12:00 PM ET on Thursday, December 4.
In terms of team news, Bologna has shown remarkable defensive strength, achieving three clean sheets in their last five games and maintaining a solid home record. Manager Vincenzo Italiano may tweak the squad to manage the congested fixture schedule, hinting at possible starts for Emil Holm and Lewis Ferguson, who have been fighting for minutes. However, the status of Riccardo Orsolini, Bologna’s attacking dynamo, remains uncertain as he balances his contributions in the Coppa Italia and Serie A, particularly with injuries sidelining key players like Martin Vitik, Remo Freuler, and Lukasz Skorupski.
Parma faces a greater challenge with injuries to key defenders Alessandro Circati and Abdoulaye Ndiaye, as well as first-choice goalkeeper Zion Suzuki. This could lead to a crucial showdown between Edoardo Corvi and the newly acquired veteran Vicente Guaita for the starting goalkeeper role. Despite these setbacks, Mateo Pellegrino has emerged as a bright spot in Parma’s lineup, contributing three goals already in the cup.
Fans are in for an exciting match that not only showcases local rivalries but also sets the stage for Bologna’s quest to defend their title while Parma seeks to turn around their fortunes.