Serie A: Roma are Ready… But are Bologna?

AS Roma vs Bologna

The Serie A fixtures came out two months ago and, since then; fans around Italy have been counting down the days. Well, the time has come, and on Saturday evening, Roma entertain Bologna in a fascinating clash.

Two teams which have nudged the top four in recent campaigns come together, with a new man in the home dugout; one of the big Serie A 2025 news stories of the summer was Gian Piero Gasperini’s switch from Atalanta to AS Roma. The 67-year old turned La Dea into one of Europe’s best attacking forces over the past decade and Roma fans want a piece of the magic.

Meanwhile, Bologna are in a period of transition too, as Fabio Pisacane has walked through the door and he is tasked with picking I Rossoblu up from a disappointing campaign last term. But while Roma’s squad is well stocked with existing stars and some exciting incomings, Bologna has plenty of work to do, and that gives Gasperini’s new charges a big chance this weekend.   

 

Talking Points

Can Gasperini transform Roma?

Atalanta fans were certainly not happy to see their manager leave to manage a top four rival and the Serie A 2025 betting odds have elevated Roma to fifth favourites to win the Scudetto, leapfrogging La Dea who has slipped down to sixth. And Gasperini has got to work quickly in the transfer market. The signings of wingback Wesley and striker Evan Ferguson have strengthened an already talented squad and Roma have, this week, added Aston Villa winger Leon Bailey on loan, though he will spend some time out having picked up an injury in his first training session in Rome.

And Roma are heading back to the Premier League in an attempt to sign Manchester United’s want-away forward Jadon Sancho; the clubs have reached an agreement

approaching £20m, a fraction of the £73m fee the Red Devils paid to Borussia Dortmund in 2021. The club and player are working on personal terms so there is some way to go, but if Sancho does join Roma that will be another statement of intent. Gasperini has proven performers in Artem Dovbyk, Paul Dybala and Stephan El Shaarawy already at the club and if he can integrate the new boys quickly they will be a formidable opponent.

 

Bologna rebuild isn’t easy

While Bologna won the Coppa Italia in May, a first trophy in 51 years, they laboured in the league and slipped to ninth in Serie A after reaching the heights of fifth in 2023/24. Key players Joshua Zirkzee and Riccardo Calafiori left for Manchester United and Arsenal in summer 2024, and the club still has plenty of work to do in the market, with the latest betting odds predicting an eighth placed finish, behind the new kids on the block from Como.

I Rossoblu have carried on selling, with Dan Ndoye joining Nottingham Forest and already scoring his first goal for the Premier League side, and, according to reports in the UK, defender Jhon Lucumi is a target for Sunderland. Meanwhile, the club is struggling to land its primary target, Kristjan Asllani. The 23-year old central midfielder would add serious quality to the Rossoblu starting eleven but talks between the two clubs seem to have stalled.

Bologna have signed former Juventus winger Federico Bernadeschi. The 31-year old has spent the last three seasons in the MLS with Toronto FC, and he faces a fitness test before the weekend’s fixture; meanwhile midfielder Lewis Ferguson is also doubtful and defender Juan Miranda is suspended.  

One player who would simply love to play against Roma is Lazio legend Ciro Immobile. The four times Capocannoniere winner is 35 now, and he spent the last season in Turkey with Besiktas. He scored 169 goals in 270 games for Lazio and Bologna fans would give anything for just one from Immobile against I Giallorossi on Saturday.        

 

History

Roma have bossed the head to heads with Bologna, winning 15 to I Rossoblu’s seven while there have been ten draws; and the Romans have scored 53 goals in that time to Bologna’s 35.  

But last season Bologna had the upper hand, winning 3-2 in Rome in November and then following that up with a 2-2 draw in Bologna as Dovbyk scored a 98^th-minute leveller for I Giallorossi. 

 

Betting Tip

The draw is at SBOTOP odds of 3.20 and Bologna are at 3.30 so there is a decent case to be made for any of the three outcomes, with a correct score of 1-1 paying out 5.95.

But I think home advantage and renewed optimism under Gasperini will see Roma make a winning start.

   

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