Bologna vs Inter Milan preview: predicted lineups, match prediction, bet builder tips and standout odds to weigh up before this Serie A clash kicks off.
Bologna vs Inter Milan Match Summary
Competition | Italian Serie A |
|---|---|
Match Date | Saturday 17 October 2026 |
Match Time | 17:00 UK time |
Venue (City, Stadium) | Stadio Renato Dall'Ara |
Bologna vs Inter Milan at the Renato Dall'Ara pits a side scrapping in the bottom half against the Serie A leaders, with goals at both ends the clear angle for Saturday's kick-off.
Bologna sit 14th under Raffaele Palladino and only got off the mark with a first league win at Lecce last weekend. Losing key winger Riccardo Orsolini to injury hurts them.
Inter top the table, unbeaten in their last 16 Serie A matches. Midweek, Club Brugge beat them 4-3 at home in the Champions League, so Chivu's side have a point to prove.
Inter have not had it all their own way against Bologna. The previous meetings record reads one Bologna win, three draws and two Inter wins, so the hosts are no pushovers.
Bologna vs Inter Milan Form
Bologna have taken just 5 points from their opening Serie A outings. A 2-1 win at Lecce finally delivered a first league victory of the season, but finishing remains a weakness, and without Orsolini the onus falls on Roberto Piccoli and Nicolò Cambiaghi to carry the attack.
Domestically, Inter are purring, with Marcus Thuram directly involved in every goal they have scored this term. Europe is another story. The Brugge loss was their fourth consecutive defeat in European competition, a run that jars badly with their league form and gives Bologna a sliver of hope.
Bologna vs Inter Milan Lineups & Team News
Injuries & Suspensions
Bologna: Emil Holm (Injured/out), Riccardo Orsolini (Injured/out)
Inter Milan: Curtis Jones (Injured/out), Lautaro Martínez (Injured/out), John Stones (Doubtful)
Bologna
The Bologna vs Inter Milan lineups show Raffaele Palladino sticking with an attacking 3-4-3, with Lewis Ferguson and Tommaso Pobega forming the engine room. Emil Holm and Riccardo Orsolini are both out injured, which leaves Federico Bernardeschi and Nicolò Cambiaghi to provide the width around Roberto Piccoli.
Inter Milan
Cristian Chivu's signature 3-5-2 is missing club captain Lautaro Martínez and Curtis Jones through injury, while John Stones is doubtful. That puts young striker Francesco Pio Esposito in line to partner Marcus Thuram, with Nicolò Barella driving a busy midfield.
Bologna vs Inter Milan Predicted Lineup
Bologna
Formation: 3-4-3
Predicted Starting Lineup: (probable) Massimo Pessina; Matteo Darmian, Torbjørn Heggem, Arthur Theate; Juan Miranda, Lewis Ferguson, Tommaso Pobega, Nadir Zortea; Nicolò Cambiaghi, Roberto Piccoli, Federico Bernardeschi
Inter Milan
Formation: 3-5-2
Predicted Starting Lineup: (probable) Josep Martínez; Alessandro Bastoni, Yann Bisseck, Benjamin Pavard; Federico Dimarco, Petar Sučić, Aleksandar Stanković, Nicolò Barella, Andy Diouf; Marcus Thuram, Francesco Pio Esposito
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Bologna vs Inter Milan Key Stats & Match Facts
Federico Dimarco has recorded 1+ shots on target in 7 of his last 8 Serie A appearances against Bologna.
There have been 4+ goals scored in 3 of the last 4 Serie A meetings between Inter and Bologna.
Inter have had 5+ shots on target in 7 out of 10 Serie A matches against Bologna.
Francesco Pio Esposito has recorded 1+ shots on target in 5 of his last 6 Serie A appearances.
There have been 28+ shots taken in 5 of Inter's last 5 Serie A matches.
Bologna vs Inter Milan Prediction & Best Bets
Our prediction: Inter to win an open, messy fixture. The visitors are 8/13 (Coral) and carry far more firepower, but Bologna love to play with width, and defending attacks down the flanks is one of the few soft spots in Inter's game, so the hosts can still find the net.
Best Bets
Over 2.5 goals in the Total Goals Over/Under market. Inter have seen over 2.5 goals in six of their last seven Serie A games. There have been 3+ goals scored in 7 of the last 10 Serie A meetings between these sides, and with Inter's attack in this kind of mood, this is the strongest of our Bologna vs Inter Milan best bets. The projected total of roughly 3.5 goals backs it up.
Both teams to score: Yes, in the Both Teams To Score market. Bologna are set up in an attacking 3-4-3, and their last meeting with Inter finished 3-3. Both teams have scored in 7 of the last 10 Serie A meetings between Bologna and Inter. The numbers put this at around 61%, which fits the hosts nicking a goal even if Inter take the points.
Bologna vs Inter Milan Bet Builder
Our Bologna vs Inter Milan bet builder tips lean squarely on Inter's attack, with Hakan Çalhanoglu to score, Inter Over 1.5 goals and a Marcus Thuram shots double.
Hakan Çalhanoglu to score anytime. The midfielder has found the net in three of his previous four league outings, and Inter's threat from set pieces gives him another route to goal.
Inter Over 1.5 goals. The visitors have hit this line in each of their last four matches, and Bologna's issues defending set pieces and aerial duels play straight into their hands.
Marcus Thuram Over 0.5 shots on target. He has been on target with at least one effort in all four of his recent league appearances, and with Lautaro Martínez out, he is the focal point.
Marcus Thuram Over 2.5 shots. The forward has fired three or more shots in four of his previous five top-flight games, and Inter's sheer volume of attacking play keeps the ball coming his way.
At the time of writing, this bet builder pays a best price of 13/2 and is as short as 19/5 elsewhere.
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Bet builder odds correct at time of publishing.
Bologna vs Inter Milan Talking Points
The biggest talking point is who fills the gaps. Riccardo Orsolini has scored or assisted in 5 of his last 7 Serie A appearances against Inter, so Bologna lose their most dependable source of goals in this fixture. Inter are without Lautaro Martínez, who found the net three times in his previous five top-flight meetings with Bologna, but Thuram's form softens that blow considerably. The real battle is in the engine room, where Lewis Ferguson and Tommaso Pobega face Nicolò Barella and a three-man Inter midfield. Smarting from the Brugge defeat, the champions will want to bounce back immediately, and if they win that midfield scrap, Bologna will spend long spells in their own half.
Bologna vs Inter Milan Predictions FAQs
When is Bologna vs Inter Milan?
Bologna vs Inter Milan kicks off at 17:00 UK time on Saturday 17 October 2026.
Where is Bologna vs Inter Milan being played?
Bologna vs Inter Milan is being played at the Stadio Renato Dall'Ara.
What competition is Bologna vs Inter Milan in?
Bologna vs Inter Milan is a Serie A fixture in the 2026/2027 season.
Disclaimer
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