Aiming to wrap up their place in Rome, Bologna take a three-goal lead into the second leg of their Coppa Italia semi-final against Empoli, as the teams reconvene on Thursday.
After swatting aside their Tuscan counterparts in the first leg, the Rossoblu are close to confirming a clash with AC Milan next month.
Match preview
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Bologna placed at least one foot in the Coppa Italia final by beating a youthful Empoli team earlier this month, when they took complete control of the tie at Stadio Carlo Castellani.
Having broken through when top scorer Riccardo Orsolini continued his superb season midway into the first half, they then strode further clear as in-form winger Dan Ndoye twice teed up Thijs Dallinga.
The latter then missed the chance to net a hat-trick, before substitute Nicolo Cambiaghi struck a post, as the dominant Rossoblu racked up their sixth win on the spin.
After beating Monza and Atalanta BC to reach the semi-finals for the first time since 1999, they have a great chance to cap several years of progress by lifting some silverware - but coach Vincenzo Italiano also has one eye on returning to the Champions League.
Following their 3-0 victory at the Castellani, Bologna started a tough run-in to the end of their Serie A campaign by drawing 1-1 with title contenders Napoli, before losing 2-0 to top-four rivals Atalanta.
Then, last weekend, the Emilian side stunned reigning champions and league leaders Inter Milan at Stadio Dall'Ara, as talisman Orsolini struck with a brilliant bicycle kick deep into second-half stoppage time.
That last-gasp strike moved them back into Italy's top four with just five rounds remaining - albeit Juventus have one game in hand, while both Rome clubs are still in contention.
Now, to meet Milan - conquerors of Inter on Wednesday - in May's cup final, they must finish off an ailing Empoli side at the Dall'Ara.
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While Bologna have lifted the Coppa Italia twice before - but most recently in 1974 - Empoli had never even reached the semis before this season.
Having beaten Catanzaro in round one, then conquered Torino with a 90th-minute winner, Roberto D'Aversa's side celebrated two famous wins to secure an unprecedented place in the final four.
First, the Azzurri defeated Tuscan rivals Fiorentina in the Derby dell'Arno: following a 2-2 draw in Florence, they ultimately progressed on penalties, setting up a quarter-final tie with fallen giants Juventus.
An XI featuring several reserves and young players managed to cause a major upset in Turin, as three weeks after being beaten 4-1 there in Serie A, they fought out a 1-1 draw before prevailing in another penalty shootout.
However, their cup run has come while they have been free-falling down the league standings, and Empoli sit inside the relegation zone following a streak of 17 top-flight games without a win.
With the priority being to maintain their Serie A status, D'Aversa fielded another makeshift lineup in the first leg against Bologna, and he is set to do so again this week as the survival scrap reaches a critical phase.
Tino Anjorin's late leveller at least staved off defeat in last week's 2-2 draw with fellow strugglers Venezia, but the Azzurri's last win anywhere was back in December.
Occupying 19th spot in the table, they trail 17th-placed Lecce by one point, while Parma, Lecce and Cagliari are also dangling just above them; so, Sunday's clash with old foes Fiorentina will be their main focus.
Team News
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With half an eye on Monday's game against Udinese - and with most of his squad available - Bologna boss Vincenzo Italiano may make several changes to the team that lined up against Inter.
The hosts will again be missing Lewis Ferguson, Davide Calabria and first-choice goalkeeper Lukasz Skorupski due to injury, while centre-back Nicolo Casale is struggling with a shoulder problem.
In Skorupski's absence, Federico Ravaglia should start in goal; meanwhile, up front, Santiago Castro and Thijs Dallinga continue their battle for the sole striker's spot.
Empoli's long list of absentees includes Youssef Maleh - who scored against Juventus in the quarter-finals - plus Christian Kouame, Szymon Zurkowski, Nicolas Haas, Saba Sazonov and Pietro Pellegri.
Key defender Ardian Ismajli is also a doubt, but youngsters such Luca Marianucci and Lorenzo Tosto are likely to be selected anyway, as Roberto D'Aversa rotates his remaining resources.
The visitors recently welcomed back Ola Solbakken and Tino Anjorin from injury, and they will also have Liam Henderson at their disposal after the Scottish midfielder missed the first leg through suspension.
Bologna possible starting lineup:
Ravaglia; De Silvestri, Erlic, Lucumi, Lykogiannis; Moro, Pobega; Orsolini, Fabbian, Cambiaghi; Dallinga
Empoli possible starting lineup:
Seghetti; De Sciglio, Marianucci, Tosto; Ebuehi, Henderson, Bacci, Pezzella; Solbakken, Konate; Colombo
We say: Bologna 2-0 Empoli (Bologna win 5-0 on aggregate)
There is very little chance of a second-leg fightback from Empoli, who have clearly signalled their intent to prioritise Serie A survival.
Bologna, meanwhile, will aim to get the job done with the minimum of fuss, as they save energy for the final phase of their top-four push.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Jonathan O'Shea
