Coppa Italia holders Bologna take on Serie A leaders Inter in the second semi-final of the Supercoppa Italia on Friday night in Saudi Arabia.
After losing two of their opening three Serie A matches this season, Bologna went on a nine-game unbeaten run (W6-D3-L0), to propel them up to fifth in the table, just three points off the summit.
However, Vincenzo Italiano’s men have gone on to take just one point from their next three matches (W0-D1-L2), which has seen them slip to sixth position, eight points behind leaders Inter.
The latest of those defeats came on Sunday night, as they were beaten 0-1 at home to the team that just leapfrogged them in the Serie A table, Juventus.
⭐ FEATURED TIP
Lautaro Martinez to Score or Assist
Odds: 4/5
Stake (£):Winnings: £20.00
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Similarly to the Rossoblu, Inter began the Serie A season by losing two of their opening three encounters, but bounced back by winning seven of their next eight (W7-D0-L1).
Christian Chivu’s men did then lose at ‘home’ to city-rivals Milan, but have since bounced back with three straight wins, with their 1-2 success at resurgent Genoa at the weekend putting them a point clear of the Rossoneri at the top of the Serie A table.
How the bookies view it: Inter favourites
Inter have been priced up as favourites to reach the final, with bet365 pricing a Nerazzurri victory inside 90 minutes at 4/6.
Bet365 have Bologna as 4/1 underdogs to win in regulation time, whilst it’s 29/10 for the game to finish in a draw and go straight to penalties.
Head to head: Bologna with recent advantage
Bologna have become a bit of a bogey team for Inter in recent seasons, with the Nerazzurri winning just one of their previous five meetings with the Rossoblu (W1-D2-L2).
Players to watch: Look to Lautaro again
Lautaro Martinez has proven to be Inter’s talisman once again this season, with the Nerazzurri captain scoring 12 goals and providing three assists across his 20 Serie A and Champions League appearances this term.
The Argentinian attacker has scored four of those goals and provided one of those assists across his past four appearances for Inter, and the 4/5 on offer for him to Score or Assist in Riyadh on Friday night appeals to me.
Predicted line-ups:
Bologna will be missing the injured Lukasz Skorupski, Martin Vitik, Nicolo Casale and Remo Freuler.
Inter will be without defenders Francesco Acerbi and Denzel Dumfries, but Matteo Darmian and Hakan Calhanoglu are available again.
Bologna: Ravaglia, Zortea, Heggem, Lucumi, Miranda, Moro, Pobega, Orsolini, Ferguson, Cambiaghi, Castro
Inter: Sommer, Akanji, Bisseck, Bastoni, Henrique, Barella, Zielinski, Sucic, Dimarco, Thuram, Martinez
Anything else catch the eye?
Goals have been a feature of Bologna’s matches in recent weeks, with their last seven in all competitions averaging 3.00 goals per game.
Both Teams to Score has paid out in five of their last six, and given the goal-scoring form Inter have been in this season, there’s a decent chance we’ll see goals in this one.
Both Teams to Score has also paid out in six of the past nine meetings between the two clubs, and the 10/11 on offer at bet365 for a repeat appeals to me.
Interested in why both teams scoring is such a strong angle? Check out our Masterclass on BTTS and sharpen your match-reading game.
Bologna vs Inter Betting Tips & Predictions
Lautaro Martinez to Score or Assist
4/5
Bet365
Both Teams to Score
10/11
Bet365
