opp bologna004.JPG

A new dawn under Donadoni

SHARE
A new dawn under Donadoni
A new dawn under Donadoni
A new dawn under Donadoni

Making a point or two

When Juventus took on Bologna at home on Matchday 7, their visitors only had one win to their name (against Frosinone) and would only add one further victory against Carpi before Delio Rossi’s dismissal at the end of October.

Since his arrival that autumn, Roberto Donadoni has overseen eight victories, tripling the Rossoblu’s points average from 0.6 to 1.8. Indeed, if the season had begun on Matchday 11, his side would be sitting pretty in fifth place, level on 27 points with Milan, trailing only Juventus (45), Napoli (35) and Fiorentina (28).

last 15 Bologna

Scoring for fun

Bologna’s goal to game ratio has shot up since the former Italy manager took over the reins from Rossi.

From scoring only six times in the opening ten matches, they have netted on 23 occasions across the last 15 fixtures, more than doubling their strike rate from 0.6 to 1.53 goals per match.

opp bologna005.JPG

At the other end of the pitch, the Rossoblu have tightened up defensively too, conceding on average 1.06 goals per game, compared to the 1.5 they let in on average in their opening 10 outings.

Three up front

The 4-3-3 was one of a few formations already tested out by Rossi and, incidentally, one which yielded all six points recorded prior to his departure.

Building on those fleeting triumphs, Donadoni has persisted with this tactical setup to great effect, thus bringing out the best in certain members of the squad.

opp bologna006.JPG

Having overcome his injury problems at the start of the campaign, Emmanuele Giaccherini has been no less than a revelation on the left side of Bologna’s three-pronged attack. The former Juventus man has scored six goals since Donadoni’s arrival and four since the turn of the year.

Giaccherini has established himself as a major all-round force for his side going forwards. In the last outing away to Udinese, Giaccherini completed 32 passes in the attacking half, fashioning three scoring opportunities and whipping in six crosses.

Bologna vs Udinese
Bologna vs Fiorentina

One man to have benefited from the wide support of Giaccherini and Anthony Mounier either side of him, is Mattia Destro. All eight of the towering forward’s goals have come with Donadoni in the dugout.

Rossettini out right

Beginning the season at the heart of Bologna’s rearguard under Rossi, Luca Rossettini has been deployed at right-back over the last three and a half months by Donadoni to brilliant effect.

The 30-year-old, who even captained the team at the start of the campaign, has not been one to shy away from a creative contribution or two himself, scoring twice and providing an assist since his switch of position.

Bologna-Inter.png
Bologna-Sampdoria.png

Over the course of his latest home match, a 3-2 win over Sampdoria, Rossettini posted fine figures of 46 passes completed, 25 of which in the opposition half, and at a precision rate of 69 per cent.

His effectiveness in attack has also been matched by a real reliability defensively. Against Vincenzo Montella’s men, he won all six of his 50-50 challenges (including four aerial battles), while making four clearances.

Related Items