AS Roma vs Bologna Prediction & Betting Tips (23 August)

AS Roma kick off their Serie A campaign with a home clash against Bologna on August 23, and the Giallorossi enter the fixture riding a wave of momentum. Under Daniele De Rossi’s stewardship, Roma have won five of their last six league matches, including a convincing 3-1 win over AC Milan and a gritty 2-0 away victory at Torino. The club has also been active in the transfer market, with Jadon Sancho reportedly close to finalizing a season-long loan move from Manchester United. Meanwhile, defender Evan Ndicka is recovering from a minor sciatic issue sustained in preseason, but is expected to return to individual training shortly.

Bologna, on the other hand, arrive in Rome with a mixed bag of form and fitness concerns. Thiago Motta’s side have lost three of their last five Serie A matches, including a 3-2 defeat to Fiorentina and a 3-1 setback against Genoa. Midfield dynamo Lewis Ferguson is ruled out with a muscular injury, and new signing Federico Bernardeschi will also miss the opener due to a knee issue. However, Bologna have bolstered their squad with the €17 million acquisition of Kristjan Asllani from Inter Milan, a move aimed at injecting creativity and control into their midfield.

Historically, Roma have had the upper hand in this fixture, winning 22 of their 43 head-to-head meetings. Yet Bologna have proven to be a thorn in Roma’s side in recent seasons, going unbeaten in their last five encounters. Riccardo Orsolini remains Bologna’s most potent threat, having netted four goals in his last six Serie A appearances. Roma will look to counter with Bryan Cristante, who has found the net twice in recent outings and continues to be a driving force in midfield.

Despite Bologna’s resilience, Roma’s home form and tactical discipline under De Rossi give them the edge. Expect a tightly contested match, with Roma controlling possession and exploiting Bologna’s defensive vulnerabilities. The prediction leans toward a 2-1 victory for Roma, with Sancho potentially making a debut cameo and Cristante or Dybala likely to feature on the scoresheet. Bologna may grab a goal through Orsolini, but the capital club’s depth and structure should see them through to a winning start.