Hellas Verona vs Bologna Prediction: Red and Blues to boost European hopes

Aidan Perkins

Apr 20

Bologna will be aiming to close the gap to the final European positions when they make the trip to Marcantonio Bentegodi to take on relegation-threatened Hellas Verona on Friday evening.

Hellas Verona vs Bologna Betting Tips

Bologna to win @ 8/5
#PickYourPunt - Federico Ceccherini to be carded & Nicola Sansone to score anytime @ 8/1

Team news

Hellas Verona are set to welcome back Miguel Veloso and Giangiacomo Magnani, who were suspended for the draw at Napoli last Saturday, but there are doubts over Josh Doig after he was forced off with a foot injury in Naples.

Thomas Henry, Ajdin Hrustic, Darko Lazovic and Deyovaisio Zeefuik are all expected to miss out.

Bologna are without Roberto Soriano after he was ruled out for a month with a ligament injury, with his place in the starting XI expected to be taken by the returning Riccardo Orsolini, who is back from suspension.

Andrea Cambiaso and Marko Arnautovic and both out of contention due to muscle and foot injuries respectively.

Bet on Hellas Verona vs Bologna with Betfred Here

Bologna to win @ 8/5

Bologna head into this fixture sitting eighth in Serie A, five points off sixth-place Atalanta who hold the last European position, and the visitors will be hoping they have reduced the arrears come the end of the weekend.

The Red and Blues picked up a 1-1 draw at home to Champions League semi-finalists AC Milan last time out, extending their unbeaten streak to five matches and keeping themselves in the hunt for Europe.

Thiago Motta's troops have also improved on the road over the past few months and they have taken 13 points from the last 18 on offer, with the only defeat during this six-game stretch a 1-0 loss at Torino.

Confidence is high within Bologna's camp right now and they will expect to see off Hellas Verona, who are in the relegation zone and three points from safety.

Marco Zaffaroni's side have improved of late and head into this contest on a two-match unbeaten run, after getting the better of Sassuolo 2-1 and then drawing 0-0 at champions-elect Napoli.

Taking something away from Naples was a massive result for the Yellow and Blues and that performance shows they will be no easy pushovers in this encounter, especially given the fact they have lost just one of their last seven home assignments.

But there is just a feeling Bologna are playing with more fluency at this stage of the campaign and they look a good price to pick up a crucial three points.

This should be a tight affair and a 1-0 win for Bologna in the correct score market at 6/1 provides value.

Football Betting Odds

#PickYourPunt - Federico Ceccherini to be carded & Nicola Sansone to score anytime @ 8/1

There are several #PickYourPunt combinations available on Betfred for this encounter but I have been drawn to the 8/1 on offer for Federico Ceccherini to be carded and Nicola Sansone to score anytime.

Italian defender Ceccherini has been shown eight yellow cards this season - the joint-highest in Verona's squad - while he has also been given his marching orders once.

The 30-year-old is a prime candidate when it comes to bookings and there is every chance he could find his way into the referee's book once again.

Part two of this selection is for Bologna forward Sansone to find the back of the net anytime, something he has achieved in his last two outings.

The former Italy international is playing with great confidence at this crucial part of the season and if he can keep getting good service from behind, he will fancy his chances of notching for the third straight game.