Serie A champions Inter will take on an underdog Bologna at the Renato Dall’Ara Stadium this weekend. Saturday’s clash in Emilia-Romagna gives Cristian Chivu’s side the chance to bounce back from yet another Champions League fiasco.
However, Bologna will not allow Inter to recover from a stunning 4-3 defeat at home to Club Brugge as they look to bounce back from a slow start. Former manager Domenico Tedesco was sacked after picking up just one point in the first four rounds of Serie A (D1, L3).
New coach Raffaele Palladino kept Bologna out of the top three despite sharing the spoils on debut with Torino. A 2-1 win at Lecce last weekend helped the Rossoblu finally reclaim the mark this season and move a point clear of 18th-placed Parma.
In stark contrast, Inter made an almost flawless start to their Scudetto defence. Apart from a dramatic 2-2 draw with Roma, the reigning hosts have won all five of their remaining league fixtures, including a 3-0 defeat by Parma last weekend. However, the Neradzurri start the proceedings as joint leaders, sitting level on points with Lazio.
Given that they have lost both their Champions League outings and are now very unlikely to challenge for a top eight finish, this is the only positive at the start of the 2026/27 season.
Match preview
Bologna
After facing Lecce last Sunday, Bologna will be looking to win back-to-back league games for the first time since mid-May. However, this can be easier said than done. Palladino’s side are without a win in six Serie A home games (D4, L2) and their last win came at the beginning of April.
Bologna’s collapse at home paints a bleak picture ahead of Inter’s trip, but their recent record in this fixture offers a silver lining for Palladino’s side. Indeed, Bologna have lost just one of their last five top-flight meetings with the Nerazzurri (2G, 2D), a high-scoring 3-3 draw here on the final day of last season.
The stalemate means that Bologna have now suffered just one defeat in their last five league meetings with Inter at Dall’Ara (3, D1). There is a feeling that extending this promising run may depend on Bologna’s ability to sort out their defensive issues, as they are yet to keep a clean sheet at home this term (D2, L1).
Inter
“Bruges” club condemned “Inter” to defeat in the fourth consecutive Champions League for the first time in the club’s history on Tuesday. Therefore, Chivu’s charges will be desperate to overcome this gut-wrenching feeling and maintain their formidable form in Serie A, where they lead after six rounds.
With just one point separating the top three teams in the table, there is little wiggle room for the Nerazzurri, whose recent away form has not inspired confidence. Barring a narrow 1-0 win at Cagliari at the end of August, Inter are winless in three of their last four competitive away matches (D2, L1), conceding exactly two goals each time.
Despite their defensive weaknesses, Chivu’s men have been unstoppable in the bottom third, scoring at least twice in five of their last six Serie A outings. Against this background, they scored one goal or fewer in five consecutive away league clashes with Bologna before the aforementioned draw at the end of last season.
Team News
Along with long-term Emil Holm, Bologna will also be without talismanic winger Riccardo Orsolini. The Italian star’s absence may not be the only attacking concern for Palladino, as Samuel Mbangula is fighting against time to make the matchday squad. If he is deemed unfit, he will likely cede his place in the starting line-up to Niccolo Cambiaghi.
As for Inter, captain Lautaro Martinez has a thigh injury and will be sidelined until the next international break. El Toro joined John Stones and Curtis Jones in the treatment room. On a more positive note, Djed Spence has returned to match fitness and could make his first Serie A start at the expense of Andy Diouf.
Bologna vs Inter Potential Kickoff Presentations
Bologna (3-4-2-1): Pessina; Darmian, Heggem, Theater; Zortea, Ferguson, Pobega, Miranda; Bernardeschi, Cambiaghi; Small.
Inter (3-5-2): J. Martinez; Pavard, Akanji, Augustus; Spence, Barella, Calhanoglu, Sucic, Dimarco; Thuram, Esposito.
Bologna vs Inter
It’s been a while since Bologna last won a home game and it’s hard to expect them to break this unwanted trend now. Inter need to recover mentally from another Champions League shock and this feels like a prime opportunity for Chivu’s side to get back to winning ways.
Prediction: “Inter” will win
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