It was a real goosebump moment when on the first matchday of the Serie A season a coach took a seat on the bench of FC Bologna, who just a few weeks before announced he was suffering from cancer. The very popular Sinisa Mihajlovic thus fulfilled the promise that he had given his team. The Serbian coach is popular with players, fans and the media alike, which is why his illness caused a great public outcry.
He followed the training sessions of his protégés by video conference and contacted the supervisor in order to pass on his knowledge in the difficult time for him personally. It is quite clear that the players of the FC Bologna in this season and especially for their coach on the pitch give everything – so far very successful. The club ranks in seventh place with seven points after four match days.
During the week in Italy there will be an English week with the fifth matchday. In Genoa wants Bologna, this forecast can be ventured to build on the good performance and immediately after the last-minute bust of the weekend against AS Roma back on the road to success. The opponents had to accept a bitter and late defeat in Cagliari, which is why reparation is required on both sides.
The match will be kicked off on Wednesday evening at 20:00 in the Luigi Ferraris by referee Davide Massa.
Genoa:
After the English week it is time to draw a first interim conclusion of the still young Serie A season. The wafer-thin shuddering relegation in the preseason should have been a warning to the club.
After a good preparation with some strong results, the competitive match was also promising. A clear cup victory against the unterklassigen club Imolese, a 3: 3 draw in the capital of AS Roma and a home win against Fiorentina – much better it could not run.
But what followed was the international break, a Testspielpleite against Virtus Entella and then two bankruptcies in the league against Bergamo and Cagliari. While the defeat at Champions League participants was still to get over, so the team of coach Andreazzoli at 1: 3 from the weekend to nibble more. Striker Cristian Kouame rewarded the visitors with his third goal of the season in the 83rd minute for a courageous performance after the break and scored the 1: 1.
Just four minutes later, Cagliari drew 3-1 and the visitors almost conceded two goals. In particular, the 1: 3 was a real slapstick deposit of the central defender. For the upcoming home game, the clear route is that the defensive stability must be restored. Genoa have met in all four games this season but have conceded at least one goal.
This is already a clear indication that there is a tip on the selection “Both teams meet” between Genoa and Bologna in the shortlist. Personally, Andreazzoli will not change much during the English week, unless a player indicates physical deficits.
Bologna:
The season of the visiting team is quite similar to that of the upcoming opponent. Also at Bologna, the start went very well with a cup victory and seven points from three games. However, the weekend was followed by the first setback, which was very bitter at a closer look.
Against AS Roma Nicola Sansone scored in the 54th minute, the 1-1 equalizer. When shortly before the end of the game with the Romans Mancini was directed with a yellow-red card of the field, it looked as if at least the one point against the top team secured.
But once again it was superstar Edin Dzeko, who silenced the stadium in the 94th minute and made the golden goal for the away win of his team. Coach Mihajlovic certainly does not have to tell his charges about “mentality” and his players will be fighting for their sick head coach again from Wednesday on.
If you look at the list of injuries, you can still find only the name Danilo. The 35-year-old Brazilian is thus the only player who is not operational on Wednesday. At the starting lineup will not change much after the overall successful performance against Rome.
In addition, the guests build on their away strength. Up to now, three wins and two draws have been won in three foreign matches. With these numbers, it is not surprising that between Genoa and Bologna the odds for the away win and the double chance X / 2 are a hot iron in the fire.
