Monza host Bologna at the Brianteo Stadium for the Italian Serie A round 6 games on Thursday night. The two sides finished in mid-table last season but were only a few points short of qualifying for Europe, and positive starts suggest they could challenge again. Despite both clubs sitting in the bottom half heading into this midweek set of fixtures, the two sides have arguably overachieved given such difficult starts. Monza failed to find their feet as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Lazio when the sides met at the Stadio Olimpico last Saturday. With five points from their opening five matches, Monza are currently 14th in the Serie A table, level on points with 13th-placed AS Roma. On the other hand, Bologna were involved in a share of the spoils once again as they played out a goalless draw with Napoli on Sunday. Bologna have picked up six points from the first 15 available to sit 11th in the league table, level on points with 12th-placed Sassuolo. For this encounter, I am expecting a win or a draw for Bologna for the following reasons:

Firstly. Bologna were handed a devilishly difficult start but have come through it with flying colours. Bologna have failed to win their opening two away games this season and will be looking to end this dry spell. Motta’s side have now played out three draws in their last four matches, with a 2-1 victory over Cagliari on September 2 being the exception. After an opening day defeat to AC Milan, Bologna are now unbeaten in four matches, a run which has seen them hold Juventus and Napoli to draws. Facing three of the title favourites in the opening five weeks was an unenviable task, but Thiago Motta's side have come out of it looking good.

Secondly. With last weekend's result, Raffaele Palladino’s men have now failed to win their last three matches, losing once and picking up two draws since a 2-0 victory over Empoli on August 26. Despite being just two points above the drop zone, they have collected more points in their opening five games than they took from their first seven last season. Monza have already faced away trips to Inter Milan, Atalanta and Lazio - three of last season's top five, and they did lose to both Inter and Atalanta.

This will be the third-ever meeting between Monza and Bologna, with both sides claiming one win apiece in their previous two encounters. Monza and Bologna have struggled to find their feet this season and will be looking to pick up a morale-boosting victory here. Both sides are evenly matched on paper, and a draw is most likely. But if there is going to a victor, I expect Bologna to have it in them to get a win here tonight. It is a win or a draw for Bologna.

周四晚上，蒙扎将在布里安特奥球场迎战博洛尼亚，进行意甲第6轮比赛。上个赛季，两支球队都在积分榜中游，但只差几分就能晋级欧洲赛场，而积极的开局表明他们有可能再次挑战。尽管两家俱乐部在本周中期的比赛中都处于下半区，但在如此艰难的开局下，两家俱乐部都可以说取得了超额的成就。上周六，蒙扎和拉齐奥在奥林匹克球场的比赛中被拉齐奥1-1逼平，蒙扎没能找回状态。蒙扎在前五场比赛中得到5分，目前在意甲积分榜上排名第14，与排名第13的罗马持平。另一方面，博洛尼亚在周日0比0战平那不勒斯的比赛中再次分享了战利品。博洛尼亚在前15名中积6分，排名第11，与排名第12的萨索洛积分持平。对于这场比赛，我希望博洛尼亚能赢或平，原因如下:

首先。博洛尼亚的开局非常艰难，但他们以优异的成绩度过了难关。博洛尼亚本赛季开局两场客场比赛都未能获胜，他们将寻求结束这段干旱期。莫塔的球队在最近的四场比赛中有三场平局，9月2日2-1战胜卡利亚里是一个例外。在揭幕战败给AC米兰之后，博洛尼亚在四场比赛中保持不败，在这四场比赛中，他们将尤文图斯和那不勒斯逼平。在前五周面对三支夺冠热门球队是一项不令人羡慕的任务，但蒂亚戈·莫塔的球队表现不错。

其次。随着上周末的结果，拉斐尔·帕拉迪诺的球队在最近三场比赛中未能获胜，自8月26日2:0战胜恩波利以来，他们输了一场，两场平局。尽管只比降级区高出两分，但他们在前五场比赛中获得的积分比上赛季前七场比赛的积分还要多。蒙扎已经客场面对了国际米兰、亚特兰大和拉齐奥——上赛季排名前五的三支球队，而且他们也同时输给了国际米兰和亚特兰大。

这将是蒙扎和博洛尼亚之间的第三次交锋，双方在前两次交锋中都取得了一场胜利。蒙扎和博洛尼亚本赛季一直在努力寻找自己的立足之地，他们希望能在这里赢得一场鼓舞士气的胜利。双方在纸面上势均力敌，很可能打成平局。但如果有胜利的话，我希望博洛尼亚今晚能在这里取得胜利。对于博洛尼亚来说，这不是赢就是平。