The 10th round of Italian Serie A brings an Emilia-Romagna derby between Parma and Bologna at the historic Stadio Ennio Tardini. The home side continues its battle for survival, while the visitors aim to confirm their superiority and push closer to the European spots.
Team Form and Overview
Parma
After returning to Serie A in 2024, Parma managed to secure their top-flight status by finishing 16th with 36 points. Under young coach Carlos Cuesta, the Crociati are once again fighting to stay up.
Their performances this season have been mixed. In the Coppa Italia, they have done well, but league form remains shaky. Their only victory so far came against Torino, followed by a draw with Como and a narrow 1–2 loss to Roma.
Offensively, Parma struggle to create consistent chances — they average only 0.44 goals scored per match, while conceding at a similar rate. The team’s structure and discipline have improved, but the lack of a reliable goalscorer remains their biggest weakness.
Bologna
Bologna were one of Serie A’s most impressive teams in 2024, finishing 5th under Thiago Motta, which earned them a place in the Champions League. This season, under new manager Vincenzo Italiano, they’ve settled into mid-table stability, currently sitting around 9th place.
Their European journey has been mixed: a loss to Aston Villa, a draw with Freiburg, and a win over FCSB in the Europa League group stage. Domestically, they started poorly with two defeats in their first three matches but have since steadied, drawing with Fiorentina and Torino in their recent fixtures.
Bologna average 1.44 goals scored per match and concede only 0.78, showing solid balance and defensive organization.
Key Statistics and Trends
Parma have lost only 2 of their last 7 matches, but victories are rare.
Only 33% of Parma’s matches end with both teams scoring, with an average of 1.44 total goals per game.
Bologna have drawn their last two matches.
Similarly, 33% of Bologna’s games feature both teams scoring, with an average of 2.22 total goals per match.
In the last 11 head-to-head meetings, Bologna went 10 games unbeaten before finally losing to Parma in February 2025.
Probable Starting Line-ups
Parma (3-5-2):
Suzuki – N'Diaye, Circati, Del Prato – Britci, Estevez, Keita, Bernabe, Almqvist – Pellegrino, Cutrone
Bologna (4-2-3-1):
Ravaglia – Miranda, Heggem, Vitik, Holm – Ferguson, Freuler – Cambiaghi, Odgaard, Bernardeschi – Castro
Tactical Outlook
Expect a tactical and compact encounter. Parma will likely sit deep, relying on quick transitions through Bernabe and Almqvist, while Bologna will control possession, building attacks through Ferguson and Bernardeschi.
Bologna’s structure and defensive reliability could limit Parma’s counterattacks, while the home team’s defensive setup should prevent a high-scoring affair.
Score Prediction
Parma 0–1 Bologna
It should be a tight, low-scoring contest decided by a single moment of quality — and Bologna’s superior squad depth might make the difference.
Recommended Bet: Total Under 2.5 Goals (Odds: 1.60)
