Rome – Bologna 23-08-2025

It's finally time for a new edition of the Italian Serie A. The twenty teams are once again starting
from scratch, full of hope, commitment and ready to fight for the greatest thing Italian football
has to offer – namely the Scudetto.

In this analysis, we take a closer look at Roma and Bologna, two teams that come from different
seasons in Serie A, but both know they can perform at a higher level.
A lot has happened in both camps over the summer, and here's an overview of what you need to know
before the season opens.

Rome – ready for a new chapter

Roma finished last season in a solid 5th place. After a slow start to the season,
the team looked almost unbeatable after Claudio Ranieri took over before Christmas. At the end of the season,
Ranieri decided to retire, and Roma announced that Gian Piero Gasperini – former
Atalanta coach – would take over. Gasperini brings with him solid experience from Serie A,
including good finishes and achievements with Atalanta.

The run-up has been mixed, but mostly positive. Roma started with three straight wins against
Kaiserslautern, Cannes and Lens without conceding a goal. Then came a tough match against
Aston Villa in England, which ended in a clear 4-0 defeat. However, the team bounced back with a 0-1
win against Everton on Merseyside.

The style of play is still well-organised, with a three-man backline that drops to five when the team
defends – a philosophy very similar to that used by Ranieri – so we are unlikely to see a radically
changed Roma team this weekend.

There have been changes in the transfer market, however. Midfield general Leandro
Paredes has returned to Boca Juniors, while German Mats Hummels has hung up his boots.
Alexis Saelemaekers is also back in Milan after his loan spell. Roma have brought in Irish
striker Evan Ferguson (loan) and Jamaican winger Leon Bailey from Aston
Villa (loan).

This is still a strong Roma team with a good balance between experience and youthful enthusiasm.
Players to watch include Matías Soulé, who impressed last season and
has continued his good form in the pre-season with three goals in six games.

Bologna – cup heroes with ambitions

Bologna finished last season in a disappointing 9th place, but were able to console themselves with a victory in
the Coppa Italia. Although the cup gold was a great boost, the team did not quite live up to expectations
in the league.

As with Roma, there has been activity in the transfer market. Norwegian defender
Torbjørn Lysaker Heggem has been brought in from West Bromwich and will be exciting to follow in Italy. In
addition, Bologna have brought in Serie A familiar Federico Bernardeschi and veteran Ciro
Immobile, who with his 201 Serie A goals brings experience and weight to the attack. Although
Immobile is starting to age, he could become a key player under coach Vincenzo
Italiano

Bologna started the season with a comfortable 7–0 win over Virtus Verona (Serie C)
before beating Stuttgart 1–0. The dress rehearsal ended with a messy 2–4 loss to OFI Crete, but
overall the team has shown promising form. At the same time, they have lost key players: Dan Ndoye has
left for the Premier League, and centre-back Sam Beukema has joined Napoli.

With offensive reinforcements and defensive stability, this is a Bologna team that looks very
exciting heading into the season.

Summary

It's always difficult to predict how teams will line up in the first round of the league, but both Roma and
Bologna have solid squads. History points in Bologna's favor: Roma haven't beaten Bologna
since January 2023. In the last five meetings, Bologna has won three and drawn two.

There have also been goals – a total of 13 in the last three matches – and both teams have shown that they
want to attack. The key will be whether Roma can handle Bologna's dangerous counterattacks,
especially since their wing-backs often go high up the pitch.

Everything is in place for an entertaining opening.

Italy at 20:45: Rome – Bologna: Both teams to score (1.88)

Alternative games:

Italy at 20:45: Roma – Bologna: Over 2.5 goals (2.12)

Italy at 20:45: Rome – Bologna: Over 8.5 corners (1.89)