Bologna v Monza tips: Two winless sides chase their first Serie A points

Two sides still searching for their maiden wins of the campaign meet in the early hours of Sunday morning when Bologna host Monza at the Stadio Renato Dall'Ara. Both clubs sit in the bottom four of the table with identical 0-0-2 records, but the ladder tells only part of the story. Bologna have lost both their opening fixtures by a single goal, keeping things tight despite coming up empty, while Monza have shipped seven goals in two outings — a 1–4 belting at Internazionale followed by a 2–3 home defeat to Udinese.

The home side will be keen to convert their defensive starch into points, but they'll need to find the back of the net to do so — two matches without scoring is a drought that needs breaking. Monza, meanwhile, have at least managed three goals across their opening pair, though their leaky defence has undone them on both occasions. Sunday's 1:00 am AEDT kick-off shapes as a must-win for both if they're to avoid an early-season hole.

Can Bologna finally break through at home?

Bologna sit 15th on the ladder, two spots ahead of their visitors, but the margins have been slender. Coming off a 0–1 away loss to Atalanta on the first of September, they'll take heart from keeping another clean sheet on the road — even if the shutout streak at the attacking end is becoming a concern. Their only home fixture so far was a 0–1 defeat to Lazio on the 25th of August, another single-goal margin that could easily have swung the other way.

Monza's form line makes for grimmer reading. They're coming off that 2–3 home loss to Udinese on the 30th of August, and before that they conceded four at the San Siro against Inter. They've managed to find the net in both outings, but shipping an average of 3.5 goals per match is a recipe for disaster. The two sides have never met in Serie A, so there's no head-to-head history to lean on, but the market has Bologna as clear favourites at $1.70 for the win, with Monza out at $4.40 and the draw at $3.70.

Our serie a predictions lean towards the home side given their tighter defensive shape and Monza's early-season vulnerability at the back. Bologna's scoreless start is a worry, but facing a side that's conceded seven in two might be just the tonic they need. The price reflects that view — Bologna are short, but they're short for a reason.

Where does the value sit?

With no line or total market available for this one, the match-winner call is the main event. Bologna's $1.70 quote suggests the market expects them to get off the mark at home, and it's hard to argue against the logic. Monza's porous defence and Bologna's ability to keep things tight — even in defeat — point to a scenario where the home side edges a low-scoring affair.

The draw at $3.70 has some appeal given both sides' winless starts, but Bologna's home ground should give them the edge. Monza have shown they can score, but their inability to stem the flow at the other end makes them hard to trust on the road. If Bologna can finally convert one of their chances, the visitors may not have the defensive resolve to claw it back.