Repeating last season’s Champions League success will be a tough, perhaps impossible, task for Bologna. With key players like Calafiori, who has joined Arsenal, Zirkzee moving to Manchester United, and Thiago Motta now managing Juventus, there are many uncertainties surrounding the team’s prospects for the upcoming season. Additionally, the squad has lost other essential players like Kristiansen and Saelemaekers, both of whom were vital under Motta’s management, especially Saelemaekers during the historic 2023-24 campaign.
This season will bring challenges even for fantasy football enthusiasts, as potential starters, squad rotations, penalty takers, and set-piece specialists are all up in the air. Bologna is now under the management of Vincenzo Italiano, who arrives after three successful years at Fiorentina, where he reached three finals, including one Coppa Italia and two in the Conference League.
Director of Sport Sartori has focused on strengthening the flanks, bringing in Holm for the right side and Spanish player Miranda for the left. In attack, Cambiaghi, known for his impressive performances at Empoli, will be looking to establish himself at the age of 24. Up front, Bologna has secured Dutch striker Thijs Dallinga, born in 2000, who enjoyed a standout season with Toulouse, scoring 19 goals—14 in Ligue 1 and 4 in the Europa League.
In defense, Martin Erlic has joined after a challenging season that ended in relegation with Sassuolo. Under Italiano, wing players typically excel, making the duo of Posch (or Holm when he’s back from injury) and Miranda reliable options. The same applies to Orsolini, who will also take penalty duties, and Ndoye, who may share time with Orsolini.
The midfield could see players like Lewis Ferguson contributing, despite being sidelined for the first three months due to an injury sustained last season. While Ferguson recovers, Giovanni Fabbian is expected to start. Last season, he scored five goals as a substitute, and more regular playing time should help him showcase his talents.
There’s also Santiago Castro to consider. While Dallinga is set to be the main striker, the Argentine, who joined in January, has already scored in Serie A and could play a significant role with squad rotations between league matches and the Champions League.
The likely formation is 4-2-3-1: Skorupski; Posch, Beukema, Lucumì, Miranda; Freuler, Aebischer; Orsolini, Fabbian, Cambiaghi; Dallinga. Possible substitutions include Posch/Holm, Orsolini/Ndoye, and Cambiaghi/Karlsson. Penalty takers could be Orsolini, Castro, or Dallinga, while free-kick responsibilities may fall to Orsolini, Lykogiannis, or Karlsson.
