Bologna looks to break scoring drought against a Sassuolo side also seeking answers

Two games, zero goals scored and two losses: that's how Bologna is starting this Serie A campaign, and on Sunday at the Renato Dall'Ara it hosts a Sassuolo side that at least knows what winning feels like this season. With 0 points out of a possible 6, the hosts sit practically at the bottom of the table (16th place) and need an urgent turnaround against a rival that isn't exactly flying either, but does have three more points on the board.

Bologna's record in the league so far is as brief as it is telling: 2 games played, 2 losses, 0 goals scored and 2 conceded. Widening the lens to the last five matches across all competitions, there's a win and a draw before three straight defeats, a downward trend that's cause for concern. What's more, looking at Bologna's 2026 Serie A sample both home and away, the team hasn't scored in a single match and has conceded an average of 1 goal per game, without a single clean sheet.

Sassuolo, meanwhile, comes in with 1 win and 1 loss in its 2 matches, with 3 goals scored and 3 conceded, leaving it in 11th place. Over its recent five-game sample the team swings between results: two losses, two wins and a draw, without a clear pattern in either direction. In that same 2026 Serie A sample, the side from Emilia-Romagna averages 1.5 goals scored and 1.5 conceded per match, with its most productive stretch coming between the 31st and 45th minutes. Domenico Berardi, Cristian Volpato and Cas Odenthal top the scoring charts in that sample, with one goal apiece.

The head-to-head record clearly favors Bologna: of 8 meetings played, the hosts have won 4, there have been 3 draws and Sassuolo has won just once, with a combined goal tally of 15 for Bologna against 8 for Sassuolo.

The likely lineups

Flagged as low reliability, Bologna's probable lineup, based on recent matches, would have Lukasz Skorupski between the posts, with Eivind Helland and Juan Miranda as regulars in defense, and Lewis Ferguson a constant presence in midfield alongside Federico Bernardeschi. Up top, Santiago Castro emerges as the main attacking reference.

On Sassuolo's side, also an estimate, Armand Laurienté looks like the most recurring starter in attack, alongside Kieron Bowie, while Cristian Volpato and Nemanja Matic would be regulars in midfield. In goal, recent appearances have been split between Stefano Turati and Arijanet Muric, with no clear starter yet.

What the numbers say

Our model gives Bologna a slight edge as the home side, though without an overwhelming favorite:

These figures reflect home advantage and history more than current form: Bologna arrives without a goal to its name, so that 49% should be read with caution. This is the model's own estimate, not a betting line, and the 28% draw probability makes clear the result is far from settled in advance.

The Renato Dall'Ara needs to see its team break its scoring drought, and Sassuolo arrives with a chance to pick up a second win that would ease its position in the table. Neither side can afford another slip-up without consequences in the standings.