After finishing well, better than expected based on the somewhat shocking start, the historic return to the Champions Cup (or the first edition in the Champions League), Bologna is throwing itself back into the championship and doing so by challenging an opponent who, speaking of doing well, is amazing and a lot: Como. The chances, for both teams, to continue the good year are there and the appointment on Saturday night will be very important in this regard. For Bologna, the test is to verify the renewed hunger in the championship, in the national dimension, with the aim of trying to return, why not, even next year, to play an important competition in Europe, while for Como, it is to achieve a salvation that could not be taken for granted and that was not especially at the beginning of the season. Vincenzo Italiano's team is on a prolonged positive streak, a positive streak that also includes matches played against teams such as Inter and Dortmund while Como is actually coming off a defeat but more than honorable and probably not fully deserved: the one against Atalanta. There is therefore mutual optimism on both sides, certainly greater than that preceding the first leg which ended 2-2: it was the fourth matchday and Como arrived with just one point while Bologna had two.

Bologna's shape and key statistics

Although useless for the purposes of continuing in the Champions League, the last two European matches against Dortmund and Sporting Lisbon, in which there was a win and a draw, have done Bologna good and could have given them the awareness that last year's place can also be achieved this season where, after the same number of matches, the Emilian team has only 2 points less than last year.

The seventh position in the championship, shared with Milan and the result of 8 wins, 10 draws and only 3 defeats, is good, as is this last period of the rossoblù made of 6 consecutive useful matches between Serie A and the Champions League.

Como's shape and key statistics

The home defeat against Atalanta, equal in dynamics and score to the one against Milan (1-2) does not erase the good championship that Como is playing so far: thirteenth place with 5 wins, 7 draws and 10 defeats. Despite these KOs coming at Sinigaglia, it is far from home that Como is struggling: only 7 points in 11 matches.

A particularly positive figure, however, is that of the goals scored by Fabregas' team: 27 in 22 games, which constitute the tenth attack in the Serie A championship; an attack exalted by Patrick Cutrone and Nico Paz (11 goals between them).

Match Prediction and Tactical Overview

Bologna comes into the match with more unavailable players than Como and with the fatigue of the Portuguese trip in the Champions League that could leave some residue. Como, on the other hand, obviously rested during the week and was able to concentrate on the match after having digested the disappointment accrued against Atalanta. Away from home, the last Como appearance was an excellent 1-1 against Lazio but, except for the exploit in September in Bergamo, Como slows down away from home compared to when they play at home. So, it is easier for us to think of a match with a slightly less frenetic pace, which can be resolved with less than three goals in total. The prediction of the BetMines algorithm, albeit slightly, prefers this eventuality over the opposite.

• The BetMines algorithm prediction for the match Bologna - Como predicts an Under 2.5 goals at 52%
• The BetMines algorithm prediction for the match Bologna - Como predicts an Over 2.5 goals at 48%

Bologna - Como predicted lineups

Bologna (4-2-3-1): Skorupski; Holm, Beukema, Lucumi, Miranda; Freuler, Moro; Ndoye, Odgaard, Dominguez; Dalinga. Coach: Italiano

Como (4-4-2): Butez; Engelhardt, Goldaniga, Dossena, Jack; Diao, Perrone, Da Cunha, Fadera; Nico Paz, Cutrone. Coach: Fabregas