Bologna: The gem in the Scudetto

Twenty-two years ago, Bologna finished seventh in Serie A and made Europe. They are now only nine games away from Champions League football.

Bologna players celebrating victory against Salernitana (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)

Why is no one speaking about Thiago Motta and Bologna this season? They sit in an impressive fourth place and look finely poised to remarkably achieve a top-four place.

Since the last time Bologna was in Europe, they had suffered relegation to Serie B on two occasions. They are now in the final stretch of the Serie A season, nine games to go and in fantastic form.

A stable season under a trustworthy board and Thiago Motta, who has produced a young squad into a disciplined outfit.

This is not a miracle story; this is a genuinely intelligent style of play which is disrupting the top teams in the league.

- Adaptable man-orientated zonal marking -

Thiago Motta does not have a set formation – this shape changes as per opponent. The idea is always the same – a compact block which is always in striking distance to deploy a press.

 This is not a one-man press, and neither is it always synchronised. It might be Joshua Zirkzee initiating the press, but once he goes, everyone charges. The press is not just an initiated berserk attack on whoever has the ball or is about to receive the ball.

Bologna set pressing traps for their opponent, they will force passes into zones where they know the chance to tackle, or intercept will become available.

It is the adaptability that has been such a success for Bologna. Clubs that deploy two eights such as Inter Milan have been met with two sixes from Bologna to counteract. There is no arrogance in defending in a Motta side.

The reward for this diligent, organised defensive shape which cuts out central and wide line-cutting passes is boasting the third-best defensive record in Serie A, conceding only 25.

There is confidence in possession as well – they complete a competitively high number of passes per match and have an average possession flirting around the 60% range.

They do not spend a glorious amount of time in the final third either, there is just full trust to maintain the ball in their half and destabilise and break down their opposition.

Constant intensity and aggressiveness allow Bologna to hold a high line suffocate their opponents and keep them firmly towards their box. During a situation where the ball is cleared, the attacker will typically be ganged up on by four Rossoblu defenders.

The players certainly make the system work. The engine of Lewis Ferguson in midfield has enabled Bologna to maintain the press during the entirety of games, with the Scottish midfielder also able to add goals to his catalogue.

Riccardo Orsolini has been an outlet for goals on many occasions so far this season with a fantastic technique in front of goal. He scored a hattrick against Empoli earlier this season.

Riccardo Calafiori is surely a contender to make the Italian national team squad for the Euros this summer. The 21-year-old has shown promise in both left back and centre back and would be a handy player for the Azzurri.

- Joshua Zirkzee -

Stood at 6’4, the Dutch striker has discovered confidence and quality under Thiago Motta and is displaying confidence as the main man in Emilia Romagna.

 He is the vital cog of the attacking phase for Bologna. He can receive the ball on the half-turn and offload it to nearby midfielders or play a long ball, such as in Harry Kane fashion.

To add to it, he is particularly fast and skilful. His ability to take on defenders and create shooting opportunities consistently.

The 22-year-old has impressed with impressive goals against Sassuolo, Lazio and Torino already this season and has scored ten goals with three assists in the league this season.

Bologna has to maintain the ideas which have got them into this cushy position with nine games remaining. The summer will see a swarm of offers for Motta and star players such as Zirkzee, for which they must bat away to allow development.

Thiago Motta is that modern football manager ex-player mould who simply wants to find the most efficient way to win football matches. For Bologna, they have struck gold with a former footballer who has the intelligence and know-how to get the best out of his players.