Soccer Italy Serie A Prediction

Lecce vs Bologna - Match Preview

⚽ 4 June 2023 - 19:00 GMT +0

The final day of the Serie A (SA) season comes with no pressure for Lecce, who secured their safety in dramatic fashion against Monza last week with a 101st-minute winner from the penalty spot! Boss Marco Baroni described his squad as “unique” after a well-timed three-match unbeaten run preserved their top-flight status for another year (W1, D2), so this clash with Bologna accounts for little more than professional pride.

The home faithful are bound to be in a celebratory mood as they close out their season, but the Stadio Via del Mare has been far from a fortress for Lecce this term, with their 17 home points more than only already-relegated Cremonese and Sampdoria. The key component in their survival has undoubtedly been their defending, with Giallorossi’s 43 goals conceded the best record among sides in the bottom half of the SA table.

Bologna head into their own season finale looking to secure just a second top-half finish since returning to the Italian top-flight in 2015. Their push towards the European places has stalled of late thanks to a run of just one win from eight league matches (D5, L2), but the Rossoblù has earned plenty of admirers for their style of play under manager Thiago Motta, who is reportedly a target of both Juventus and PSG.

Their resilience was on show in coming from two goals down to salvage a draw against title winners Napoli last time out, a result that helped preserve a four-match unbeaten run as the season came to a close (W1, D3). Bologna in search of back-to-back away wins for the first time since February after a thumping 5-1 win over Cremonese in their last away assignment, but they’ll need to have their shooting boots ready as only La Cremo have managed fewer travelling shutouts than Bologna’s one this term.

📋 Players to watch: After scoring the goal that secured their survival, Lorenzo Colombo may be in line for a recall for Lecce - three of his six goals this term have arrived in stoppage time. Bologna midfielder Lewis Ferguson has netted in successive games but he’s never scored in three consecutive league matches in his career.

⚡ Hot stat: Bologna has led at half-time in just three of their 18 SA away matches this term (HT: D7, L8).