Ahead of a challenging encounter with Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League, Bologna will host Monza, who are determined to remain in the top flight. The hosts are likely to try to open up the game right from the start — this strategy could induce errors from one of the most unstable defences in the league.
Bologna enjoyed a strong run before Christmas, securing four victories in six matches since 30 November. Matches against Hellas Verona (2:3), AS Roma and Inter Milan (both 2:2) yielded only two points out of a possible nine for the team, but they still have a decent shot at breaking into the top four — they trail by just three points in terms of points lost. Notably, since early November, Bologna have amassed 19.47 xG over 10 Serie A fixtures — the third-highest tally.
An unexpected victory over ACF Fiorentina (2:1) showed that Monza should not be underestimated. Alessandro Nesta's departure seems to have begun paying dividends as the team registered 2.55 xG in the last two rounds (total over 2.5 has been surpassed in seven consecutive matches). Without their main holding midfielder, Warren Bondo, due to suspension, the coaching staff will be forced to take risks — they will need to try and attack with their entire squad.
In the two head-to-head meetings this season, Bologna defeated Monza (2:1 in the league and 4:0 in the Cup). It is clear that both sides are capable of producing at least three goals.
