On Thursday, April 24th, at the Stadio Renato Dall'Ara, Bologna, coached by Vincenzo Italiano, and Empoli, led by Roberto D'Aversa, face off in the second leg of the Coppa Italia semifinal. The prize? A ticket to the final on May 16th in Rome. The hosts come into the match as clear favorites after a dominant 3-0 win in the first leg, with goals from Orsolini and a brace by Dallinga. This result means that Empoli must win by at least three goals just to force extra time. On top of this, Bologna are currently one of the most in-form teams in Serie A, still fully in the race for a Champions League spot after a stunning 1-0 win over league leaders Inter Milan. Empoli’s task becomes even harder when considering Bologna’s home form — they haven’t lost at the Dall’Ara since December, nor have they conceded three goals in a single match since then. Meanwhile, Empoli come into this fixture having squandered a crucial opportunity to climb out of the relegation zone, drawing 2-2 at home against Venezia. The Azzurri haven’t won in over four months and face a brutal run-in with upcoming matches against Fiorentina, Lazio, and key relegation battles against Parma, Monza, and Verona. Given Empoli's desperate position in Serie A, it's reasonable to assume their focus is more on survival than an unlikely comeback away to Bologna.

Bologna's Recent Form and Key Stats

Bologna enter this pivotal match flying high, having defeated Inter Milan 1-0 in their latest Serie A outing, thanks to a stunning stoppage-time goal from Riccardo Orsolini. In their last 5 matches, Bologna have 3 wins, 1 draw, and 1 loss, averaging 1.2 goals scored and only 0.6 conceded per game.

Vincenzo Italiano’s men are unbeaten in their last 10 matches at the Dall’Ara (8 wins, 2 draws). In the Coppa Italia, they’ve won 5 straight matches and are unbeaten in their last 7 in all venues.

Empoli's Recent Form and Key Stats

Empoli’s struggles continue, with their last victory coming way back on December 8th — a 4-1 win at Hellas Verona. Last weekend, they could only manage a 2-2 draw at home to Venezia, failing to move out of the relegation zone.

It’s hard to imagine D’Aversa’s team pulling off a win in Bologna, considering they’ve suffered 6 losses and 4 draws in their last 10 away games. Scoring three or more goals in a single match seems like a tall order, especially for a side with the third-worst attack in Serie A. Striker Colombo hasn't scored in over three months.

Bologna vs Empoli Prediction and Tactical Overview

Despite a recent setback against Atalanta, Bologna remain one of Serie A’s hottest teams, pushing hard for a Champions League spot and a place in the Coppa Italia final.

The first leg clearly showed Bologna’s superiority, and with a three-goal cushion, Italiano may choose to rotate some players ahead of their weekend Serie A clash against Udinese. On the other side, Empoli are also expected to rest key players, with their Serie A survival battle taking precedence.

Given the first-leg result and both teams’ likely priorities, this match could be a low-intensity affair. Bologna should have little trouble securing their place in the final at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome on May 16th.

For this reason, the BetMines Algorithm prediction for Bologna vs Empoli predicts that at least one of the two teams will not score any goals. 

• BetMines Algorithm prediction for Bologna vs Empoli predicts that both teams will score at least one goal at 46%
• BetMines Algorithm prediction for Bologna vs Empoli predicts that at least one of the two teams will not score any goals at 54%.

Bologna vs Empoli Predicted Lineups

Bologna (4-2-3-1): Ravaglia; De Silvestri, Erlic, Lucumí, Lykogiannis; Moro, Pobega; Orsolini, Fabbian, Cambiaghi; Dallinga. Manager: Vincenzo Italiano

Empoli (3-4-2-1): Seghetti; De Sciglio, Marianucci, Tosto; Ebuehi, Kovalenko, Bacci, Cacace; Konate, Solbakken; Colombo. Manager: Roberto D'Aversa