Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the Coppa Italia match.
Can Empoli's fairy tale continue? Having knocked Juventus out of the Coppa Italia via penalties (2:1), they are now just two steps away from a place in the final. Their next challenge: Bologna, a side they’ve drawn with twice already this season (1:1 in both encounters).
Empoli
Empoli’s approach is crystal clear — surrender possession and park the bus. It’s far from pretty, and wins are hard to come by, but it’s effective when executed properly. The tactical shift came after four crushing defeats in February, including a 1:4 home loss to Juventus. Since then, they’ve managed to tighten up at the back — allowing just a single goal and four shots on target in the rematch with Juventus.
Bologna
Bologna arrive on the back of five consecutive wins, yet they continue to struggle against defensive-minded underdogs. Their narrow 1:0 win over bottom side Venezia came with a modest 1.3 xG, and they previously lost 0:2 to Parma, producing just 0.94 xG in that outing. When space is limited, Bologna’s creative output often dries up.
Empoli vs Bologna Prediction
Empoli haven’t conceded more than one goal in a match since February — even with Juventus and Roma among their recent opponents. Given Bologna’s issues in low-block scenarios, expect another cagey affair.
