Serie A: Bologna Back to Business as Sassuolo Come to Town

Bologna vs Sassuolo

Italian football begins its post-Christmas programme this weekend, and there’s a tasty derby up north where the Serie A contest between Bologna and Sassuolo is the entertainment on offer.

Just 40 miles separate the two clubs and a one-hour drive, so what better way to get out and about after the Christmas festivities than to take part in a local top-flight rivalry? And that’s what Sassuolo fans will do when they hope their team can continue its happy return to Serie A, but they face a Europe-chasing team that will be desperate to get back to winning ways after picking up a single point from the last three league games, leaving them in sixth place.            

Vincenzo Italiano’s Bologna came into the game on the back of a 2-0 loss to Napoli in the Supercoppa Italia, while Fabio Grosso’s Sassuolo lost at home to Torino last time out, a result which left I Neroverdi in 10th.  

 

Talking Points

Saudi Supercoppa a stretch for Bologna 

I Rossoblu finished ninth last season, and they are on target to improve on that this time around. And having won the Coppa Italia, beating AC Milan in the 2025 final, they have been participating in the Supercoppa Italia over in Saudi Arabia. Bologna navigated a semi-final against current Scudetto leaders Inter Milan before falling 2-0 to reigning champions Napoli during the final.

Italiano’s men have become comfortable in Italy’s elite group, but they need to get back to winning ways if they are to stay there. Bologna’s last league outing, a home match with Juventus, was a frustrating affair. A 1-0 defeat and a red card for Norwegian defender Torbjorn Heggem made it a bad day at the office. Lorenzo De Silvestri is likely to step in against Sassuolo.   

Former Lazio star Ciro Immobile has been sitting on the bench in recent weeks, and he’s always a man to bring on if you need a goal, while Federico Bernardeschi, who scored a brace in a recent Europa League win over Celta Vigo, is pushing for a start. 

The Serie A 2025 betting odds say I Rossoblu will get back to winning ways on Sunday, but they face a team which can provide a sting in the tail. 

 

Relentless Sassuolo are always a threat  

After promotion back to Serie A as champions, Sassuolo can feel pretty satisfied with their progress so far. And Grosso, who led them to an impressive Serie B title last term, has steered his men to a mid-table position with 21 points from 16 games and nine clear of the bottom three.

While they put in a disappointing show at home to Torino on their last outing, Sassuolo were hugely impressive away to AC Milan the previous week, scoring late to take a 2-2 draw away from the San Siro Stadium. Ismael Kone opened the scoring with a clever chip, but Milan roared back to lead 2-1 midway through the second half, and Armand Lauriente grabbed a leveller with 15 minutes left on the clock.

And while AC Milan have gone 14 games unbeaten in Serie A, Sassuolo’s late show was no surprise to their fans. They have scored 11 of their 21 goals in the last half hour of their games so far, and it is that relentless approach, with a “Never Say Die” attitude that has served them so well.

While survival is the club’s first objective, this is an ambitious team, recently beating Lazio. Mr. Sassuolo Domenico Berardi, with four goals and three assists, remains I Neroverdi’s biggest attacking threat, as Atalanta recently discovered when he scored a brace in a 3-0 win away to La Dea.

 

History

The head-to-heads have been shared equally at 10 wins each from the last 26 meetings, and there have been six draws. At the Stadio Renato Dall’Ara, Sassuolo have edged it by seven wins to six. But last season, I Rossoblu won this fixture 4-2, coming from behind twice to win the six-goal thriller.

In terms of their recent Serie A 2025 results, Bologna have won three, drawn one, and lost two of their last six league games, while Sassuolo have won two, drawn two, and lost two of their last six, so is an away win on the cards?      

 

Betting Tip

I don’t think so. With the draw at SBOTOP odds of 3.60 and a Sassuolo win at 4.55, an away result is certainly not out of the question, and the Double Chance: Sassuolo or Draw is priced at 2.00. But I’m backing Bologna, who kept their sharpness against Inter Milan and Napoli over in Saudi, though they need to watch Sassuolo carefully for the full 90 minutes.

   

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