Starting Tuesday, the quarterfinal matches of the Italian Cup are scheduled, with the first match taking place at the Artemio Franchi Stadium in Florence. Fiorentina and Bologna, two teams performing impressively this season, will face each other. Their high level of play is evident from their positions in Serie A, fourth and fifth respectively. If early indicators are anything to go by, both teams, against all odds, might be competing for a spot in the Champions League. The kickoff for this quarterfinal encounter in the Cup is set for 9 PM.
Fiorentina: Dominant on Home Ground!
Fiorentina played a notable role in last season’s Conference League and the Italian Cup, reaching the finals in both competitions, though they suffered two defeats. Despite this, the season can still be considered a success.
At the start of this season, the primary goal was to qualify for the Europa League. However, as the season has progressed, things seem to have changed. Under the guidance of Vincenzo Italiano, the team has been performing exceptionally well, currently holding a fantastic fourth place in Serie A, which would lead to a Champions League berth, an enormous achievement. Fiorentina has been a familiar presence in Europe’s most prestigious club competitions.
Unfortunately, Fiorentina’s streak of good results ended in their last match with a defeat at Sassuolo, finishing 1-0.
Before this setback, Italiano’s players secured three consecutive victories, interestingly each with a 1-0 scoreline, indicating a recent trend of solid and resilient play.
In the previous round of the Cup, Fiorentina struggled more than expected against Parma. Despite both teams having a storied history, Parma has been facing challenges in Serie B recently, so an easier win was anticipated for Fiorentina. The match ended 2-2 in regular time, with Fiorentina advancing to the round of 16 in the Italian Cup after a successful penalty shootout. Notably, the guests held a two-goal lead until the 83rd minute, when Nzola and Sotil stepped up, bringing the game to extra time and eventually securing Fiorentina’s passage to the quarterfinals.
In terms of home performances, Fiorentina has played nine matches at the Artemio Franchi Stadium, achieving six victories, one draw, and two defeats. Notably, the team has won four consecutive home games, boosting their confidence ahead of their clash with Bologna.
This winning streak at home began with a match against Bologna, ending 2-1, a truly thrilling game that surprisingly saw only three goals.
Bologna: Revitalized by Thiago Motta!
Bologna finished last season in an impressive ninth place in Serie A. The team’s survival was never in doubt, largely thanks to coach Thiago Motta. There is significant interest in Motta, and it seems likely that the former Barcelona and Inter player will not continue his coaching career at Bologna.
From the start of this season, one of Italy’s oldest clubs has shown that it should be taken seriously in the battle for European competition spots. Bologna can be considered the pleasant surprise of this year’s Serie A, currently in an excellent fifth place, just a point behind fourth-placed Fiorentina.
In their last five games, Thiago Motta’s team achieved three wins, one defeat, and a draw. The draw came in their last game at home against Genoa, ending 1-1, with the home team scoring an equalizer in the final moments of the match.
Interestingly, before this, Bologna suffered a heavy defeat at Udinese, which might have been their weakest game so far, especially considering that Motta’s team had a six-match unbeaten streak in all competitions.
In the previous Cup round, Bologna achieved a remarkable feat by unexpectedly eliminating the reigning champions, Inter Milan. The match ended goalless in regular time, even though Lautaro Martinez missed a penalty early in the second half. In the first period of extra time, Inter took the lead through Augusto, but Bologna showed why they are high in Serie A this season. Motta’s team first equalized in the 112th minute through Beukeme and then clinched victory four minutes later with Ndoje, assisted twice by Zirkzee, a highly sought-after young talent.
While Bologna has been impressive at home this season, their away record is less stellar. In nine away games, they have managed just one win, six draws, and two losses.
Our Betting Suggestions
Fiorentina has been exceptional at home recently, while Bologna only recently recorded their first away win in Serie A. Taking everything into account, Fiorentina appears to be the favorite in this Italian Cup match. We recommend focusing on a win for Fiorentina, with betting odds of 2.15 offered by betBonanza.
Reflecting on previous encounters between these two teams, they were often high-scoring affairs. It’s likely that this trend will continue in tonight’s match in Florence, so we suggest trying a bet on over 2.5 goals, which betBonanza offers at odds of 2.22.
Finally, as mentioned, both teams are performing at a high level this season, and it’s reasonable to expect at least one goal from each. Therefore, we recommend trying a both teams to score (BTTS) bet, offered at odds of 1.97 at betBonanza.
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