Bologna Fc make clear choices for Monday Night: Orsolini returns, Heggem out; Udinese suffer early blow with Solet injury
The latest team news for the Serie A Monday Night clash sees bologna fc fielding Orsolini from the start while missing Heggem through lombalgia, and Udinese losing Solet to an early adductor injury that required a substitution. These developments shape both the immediate tactical battle and the short-term availability picture for the visitors.
bologna fc confirmed lineup and tactical setup
Bologna line up in a 4-3-3 formation with Vincenzo Italiano selecting the following starters: Skorupski in goal; Joao Mario, Vitik, Lucumi and Miranda across the back four; Sohm, Freuler and Pobega in midfield; and Orsolini, Castro and Rowe leading the attack. Heggem will not feature due to a lombalgia that ruled him out of the matchday squad.
- Formation: 4-3-3
- Starting XI: Skorupski; Joao Mario, Vitik, Lucumi, Miranda; Sohm, Freuler, Pobega; Orsolini, Castro, Rowe
This selection returns Orsolini to the starting lineup and keeps Castro involved in the frontline role. The defensive absence of Heggem forces a minor reshuffle in the back four, but the rest of the XI indicates a continuity of the manager's preferred 4-3-3 approach.
Udinese formation, Zaniolo partnership and the Solet injury
Udinese set up in a 3-5-2 with Okoye in goal; Solet, Kabasele and Kristensen across a back three; Ehizibue, Piotrowski, Karlstrom, Atta and Zemura occupying the wing-to-wing midfield; and Zaniolo partnered up front with Buksa. Early in the match, Solet suffered an adductor injury around six minutes after a play in midfield and was replaced a short time later by Bertola. Examinations are scheduled for the following day to assess his condition.
- Formation: 3-5-2
- Starting XI: Okoye; Solet, Kabasele, Kristensen; Ehizibue, Piotrowski, Karlstrom, Atta, Zemura; Zaniolo, Buksa
- Injury note: Solet left the field with an adductor problem and was substituted; diagnostic exams are planned for the next day.
Context and what this means for the match
The match at the Dall'Ara arrives with clear domestic and psychological stakes. A victory for bologna fc would interrupt a prolonged home drought referenced in recent coverage and would move the team back up the table into eighth place, a position that would help avoid an extra Coppa Italia round but would not guarantee European qualification unless the wider national ranking is corrected by Italian teams’ performances in continental competitions. The team arrives buoyed by recent consecutive wins, including a 1-0 success in the Europa League play-off first leg and a 2-1 league win away from home.
For Udinese, the early loss of Solet complicates defensive plans and leaves the coach to manage both the in-match tactical response and the uncertainty around the defender's availability in the coming days. The substitution and the scheduled exams mean the injury should be treated as developing until test results are confirmed.
In short, lineup decisions — notably Orsolini’s return to the starting XI for bologna fc and the enforced defensive changes for Udinese after Solet’s injury — are the primary storylines shaping this Monday Night fixture and its immediate implications for both squads.
