Bologna will play a Serie A fixture on Easter Sunday for the first time since 1978. They will welcome league leaders Inter Milan to the Stadio Renato Dall’Ara in what promises to be a high-stakes encounter in the race for European qualification.
Vincenzo Italiano’s side are seeking to return to winning ways after a minor dip in form. They have drawn one and lost one of their last two league matches. The Rossoblù had previously enjoyed a five-match winning run and remain firmly in contention for a UEFA Champions League place, starting the weekend just two points behind fourth-placed Juventus.
Bologna were beaten 2-0 by Atalanta in their last league outing, and now face the possibility of consecutive Serie A defeats for the first time since January 2023. Despite that setback, confidence remains high at home, where the club has built an impressive record this season with nine wins, six draws, and just one defeat.
Italiano also has to balance domestic ambitions with a Coppa Italia semi-final second leg looming in midweek. However, with a three-goal advantage over Empoli from the first leg, Bologna supporters will be optimistic that their side can focus on continuing their strong league form on home soil.
Their opponents arrive in good spirits following a dramatic midweek performance in Europe. Inter came from behind to draw 2-2 against Bayern Munich and advance to the Champions League semi-finals with a 4-3 aggregate victory. That result keeps hopes of a historic treble alive, with Simone Inzaghi’s side also leading the Serie A standings by three points heading into the weekend.
However, Inter’s away form in the league has faltered in recent weeks. The Nerazzurri have won only one of their last six Serie A matches on the road, drawing three and losing two. They will be eager to reverse that trend in Bologna, a fixture in which they hold a strong historical advantage. Only Juventus have defeated Bologna more times in Serie A than Inter, who have claimed 75 wins from 155 encounters.
Two players likely to play pivotal roles are Riccardo Orsolini and Lautaro Martínez. Orsolini has either scored or assisted in each of his last four starts against Inter, including a decisive goal in this fixture last season. Martínez, meanwhile, has scored in four of his last six league appearances against Bologna and enters the match on a three-game scoring streak in all competitions.
A key statistic that may encourage Inter is their defensive record on the road. They have conceded a first-half goal in only one of their last 13 away games in the league, a testament to their solid early-game organisation.
With both sides fighting for major honours, Sunday’s match could have significant implications at both ends of the table. For Bologna, it is a chance to affirm their Champions League credentials; for Inter, another step towards a potential treble.
