On Thursday, October 2, at the Renato Dall’Ara Stadium, European football returns with the Matchday 2 clash of the Europa League between Bologna and Freiburg, two teams that started their European campaigns in opposite ways. The hosts are chasing their first three points in this competition after losing 1-0 in their opener away at Aston Villa, one of the favorites to win the tournament. Vincenzo Italiano’s side has started the season below expectations, already lagging behind in Serie A after the first rounds and now forced to win against Freiburg to keep alive their hopes of qualifying directly for the Round of 16. A different story for Julian Schuster’s men who, with a victory at the Dall’Ara, would have a great chance to move up to six points after the first two rounds of the Europa League. The Germans, currently eighth in the Bundesliga, defeated Basel 2-1 in their opening match, earning three points and moving closer to their goal of finishing among the top 24 teams. Although it’s only Matchday 2 of this long and fascinating competition, for the home side this is already a do-or-die game, while for the visitors it’s an opportunity to stay perfect and approach the next fixtures with greater momentum. Everything points to a thrilling clash to follow until the final whistle.

Bologna's recent form and key stats

It’s been a tough period for Bologna, with only one victory in their last five matches across all competitions. Vincenzo Italiano’s men, in their latest outing on Sunday, September 28, drew a disappointing 2-2 away against Lecce, a relegation-battling side, conceding the equalizer deep into stoppage time.

The Rossoblù’s recent form is quite poor: in their last five matches they collected 2 wins, 2 defeats, and 1 draw, averaging 1 goal scored and 1 conceded per game. The main concern remains their defense, which has been breached in each of the last four matches against AC Milan, Genoa, Aston Villa, and Lecce.

One factor that gives Bologna hope ahead of this Europa League clash with Freiburg is their strong home record. The Felsinei are unbeaten in 14 of their last 15 matches at the Renato Dall’Ara, suffering just one loss. This season they’ve been flawless at home, beating Como 1-0 and Genoa 2-1 in Serie A.

Freiburg's recent form and key stats

After a rough Bundesliga start with zero points in the opening two rounds, Freiburg found their rhythm and head into this match unbeaten in four straight games. In their latest league fixture on September 28, Schuster’s men drew 1-1 at home against Hoffenheim, missing out on a chance to break into the top four.

The Breisgau Brazilians’ record over their last five matches is positive: 3 wins, 1 draw, and 1 defeat, with an average of 2 goals scored and 1.4 conceded per game. This shows a team with a very prolific attack, but a defense far from solid. Among their most notable results are a 3-1 win over Stuttgart and a 3-0 victory away at Werder Bremen.

Freiburg are also a tough side to face away from home. They have remained unbeaten in 8 of their last 10 road games, winning 5 of their last 6. In the early stages of the 2025/26 season, they’ve managed 2 wins and 1 defeat away, scoring 6 goals and conceding 4.

Bologna vs Freiburg prediction and tactical overview

The Europa League Matchday 2 clash between Bologna and Freiburg is expected to be very balanced, but the hosts might have just enough to avoid defeat and secure either a win or a draw.

Vincenzo Italiano’s team will rely on home advantage, which has often proven decisive in recent years for achieving historic goals such as Champions League qualification and winning the Coppa Italia after 50 years.

Given it’s Bologna’s European debut at home this season, the Renato Dall’Ara crowd is expected to be electric, pushing their team toward their first three points in the group stage.

While Bologna’s attack has struggled so far, they will face a Freiburg defense that tends to concede a lot. This could benefit wingers Orsolini and Cambiaghi, along with Bernardeschi and Dominguez coming off the bench, who with their dribbling ability can create plenty of danger for Atubolu.

Considering Freiburg’s strong away performances lately, Bologna will have to work hard to claim the full three points. That’s why, with a draw also possible, the BetMines tips suggest going for the Home Double Chance 1X bet.

• Bologna vs Freiburg prediction by BetMines: Bologna win or draw (Double Chance 1X) – 72% probability

Predicted lineups Bologna vs Freiburg

BOLOGNA (4-2-3-1): Skorupski; Zortea, Heggem, Lucumì, Miranda; Ferguson, Freuler; Orsolini, Odgaard, Cambiaghi; Castro. Coach: Vincenzo Italiano

FREIBURG (4-2-3-1): Atubolu; Treu, Ginter, Jung, Makengo; Eggestein, Osterhage; Beste, Manzambi, Grifo; Adamu. Coach: Julian Schuster