Preview: Bologna vs SK Brann – prediction, team news, lineups

Leading by one aim after an in depth-fought first leg, Bologna will goal to complete the job on Thursday, once they remonstrate with SK Brann within the Europa League playoffs.

Vying to satisfy both Roma or Freiburg within the final 16, the pair will meet for the third time this season, after a league-part draw at Stadio Dall’Ara and final week’s win for the Italian aspect in Norway.

Match preview

Continuing their latest return to type, Bologna seized a vital lead final Thursday night, as Santiago Castro‘s early strike secured victory in Brann.

As a consequence, the Emilian aspect are effectively set to progress from their first UEFA knockout tie for 26 years, having additionally prolonged a powerful Europa League unbeaten streak.

After dropping to Aston Villa on the opening matchday, Bologna have misplaced none of their subsequent eight fixtures, which represents their finest undefeated sequence in Europe since 1971.

Having narrowly didn’t e book computerized entry to the final 16 by ending tenth within the league part, Vincenzo Italiano‘s males should take an extended route, whereas making an attempt to arrest their slide down the Serie A standings.

Last yr’s Coppa Italia winners endured a mid-season downturn, through which they struggled to select up factors and had been knocked out of the cup, however there have since been some inexperienced shoots of restoration.

Either aspect of beating Brann, the Rossoblu have returned to eighth place by posting league wins over Torino and Udinese – the latter ending a 4-sport dropping streak on dwelling turf.

Even so, there nonetheless appears to be no home return path to Europe, leaving the Europa League as their main focus.

Bologna have by no means misplaced a house knockout match of their continental historical past – successful 16 and drawing 11 of 27 earlier video games – so historical past suggests they need to a minimum of attain the following spherical.

In distinction to their opponents, Brann solely secured a knockout spot by ending twenty fourth – the final out there playoff place – having picked up only one level from their final three league-part matches.

Although they nonetheless edged via – matching the membership’s finest efficiency in Europe’s second-tier competitors; a run to the final 32 again in 2007-08 – Freyr Alexandersson‘s aspect now must win on the Dall’Ara with a purpose to go any additional.

Brann completed fourth in Norway’s high flight final yr, incomes qualification to subsequent season’s Conference League, however they’ve since been in mid-winter hibernation domestically.

A brand new Elite Series marketing campaign kicks off halfway via subsequent month, however they have to first attempt to enhance the consequence once they traveled to Bologna in November.

On that event, they had been held to a goalless draw by their 10-man hosts, persevering with the Bergen membership’s look ahead to a primary victory over Italian opposition.

Not solely have they didn’t win any of 4 earlier conferences with Serie A sides – and with out even scoring a aim – however Brann has additionally received simply considered one of their final 12 European knockout video games on the street.

Bologna Europa League type:

W D L DWW

Bologna type (all competitions):

LLLWWW

SK Brann Europa League type:

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Team News

© Imago

If Norway worldwide Torbjorn Heggem can overcome a minor hip downside, Bologna boss Italiano ought to have all of his first-selection gamers out there, solely leaving three defenders on the sidelines.

Both ex-Brann man Eivind Helland and veteran full-again Lorenzo De Silvestri had been omitted from the Rossoblu’s UEFA squad listing, whereas Charalampos Lykogiannis – who was despatched off when these groups met in November – is injured.

Thijs Dallinga and Castro will proceed their battle for choice up entrance: the latter began Monday’s dwelling win over Udinese and has scored in three of his final 4 appearances.

Restricted to pre-season mates and occasional Europa League contests, Brann have been with out aggressive home soccer for a number of weeks, however they’re nonetheless burdened by an extended absence listing.

Saevar Atli Magnusson, Eggert Aron GudmundssonJonas Torsvik, Niklas Jensen Wassberg, Sakarias Opsahl and Chilean striker Niklas Castro are all unavailable.

Set to begin within the guests’ midfield, Jacob Sorensen received the joint-most duels of any participant in the course of the league part (62).

Bologna potential beginning lineup:

Skorupski; Zortea, Lucumi, Casale, Miranda; Ferguson, Freuler, Moro; Bernardeschi, Cambiaghi; Castro

SK Brann potential beginning lineup:

Dyngeland; De Roeve, Knudsen, Boakye, Soltvedt; Mhyre, Sorensen, Ingason; Mathisen, Holm, Thorsteinsson

We say: Bologna 1-0 SK Brann (Bologna win 2-0 on mixture)

Bologna had been the higher aspect when Brann visited in November – regardless of happening to 10 males halfway via the primary half – they usually maintain a helpful lead from the away leg.

Having additionally halted their mid-season stoop, the hosts can win once more in Emilia-Romagna and proceed safely to the following stage.

For information evaluation of the most probably outcomes, scorelines and extra for this match please click here.