Riccardo Orsolini: Bologna’s New Attacking Talisman
After a season that saw them finish fifth in the Serie A table and return to the UEFA Champions League after six decades, it was always evident that Bologna were going to be picked apart. Joshua Zirkzee headed to Manchester United, Riccardo Calafiori moved to Arsenal, whilst their manager Thiago Motta took his talents to Juventus.
However, one player who remained at Bologna is Riccardo Orsolini. After contributing 10 goals and 2 assists in 33 appearances, it seemed that Orsolini would depart for greener pastures; instead, he’s stayed put at the Stadio Renato Dall’Ara and become even more vital in Bologna’s attack under new coach Vincenzo Italiano.
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Orsolini broke onto the scene for Serie B side Ascoli and quickly joined Juventus for €6 million plus €4 million in potential bonuses in January 2017. However, he never managed to make an appearance for Juve and instead was sent out on loan to Atalanta and Bologna, eventually joining on a permanent basis in June 2019. He’s emerged as a key figure and has even earned the attention of Italy’s various managers, scoring 2 goals and 3 assists in 7 appearances for the Azzurri.
Today, Orsolini leads Bologna’s Serie A squad for goals (6), expected goals (4.78), scoring frequency (one goal per 146 minutes), shots per game (2.3), and shots on target per game (0.9), whilst he also sits level atop their roster for big chances created (5) alongside Juan Miranda as well as big chances missed (4) alongside Dan Ndoye and Santiago Castro (4). Only Ndoye (1.3) is completing more successful dribbles per 90 (1.0) than him, whilst only Castro (8) has more goal contributions than him (7).
He kicked off the 2024/25 season in fine form, opening the scoring from the penalty spot, only for Lautaro Giannetti to equalize shortly after for Udinese in a 1-1 draw. It took him another two months for him to return to the score sheet, breaking the deadlock before halftime, but a late brace from Andrea Pinamonti would see Genoa storm back from two goals down and secure a stalemate at home.
Bologna struggled in their opening weeks under Italiano, drawing seven of their first 11 matches, whilst their only win during that period came in a 2-1 victory at Monza. However, they started to turn things around after the October international break thanks to a purple patch from Orsolini, who scored in four straight matches vs. Udinese, Cagliari, Lecce and Roma — leading them to victory in the latter three games — before being kept under wraps vs. Lazio.
The 27-year-old winger was back at it in the following two domestic matches, firing a goal and an assist in a 3-0 win vs. Venezia, before doubling the lead in a 4-0 win vs. Monza in the cup. Since then, however, he’s failed to find the back of the net as Bologna beat Torino 2-0, lost 3-2 to Hellas Verona, and drew 2-2 vs. Roma. After coming off the bench in the last three matches due to a hamstring problem, Orsolini will be looking to make his first start of 2025 and lead Bologna to victory against the reigning Italian champions in Inter Milan.
Italiano has not exactly transformed the system that brought Motta success, but instead made minor tweaks. He’s continued to play a 4-2-3-1 formation and get the best out of Orsolini, who’s impressed on the right side of attack. Playing as an inverted winger, Orsolini has the freedom to cut inside and wreak havoc with his tricky dribbling skills and test the goalkeeper from distance. Alongside Ndoye on the other flank, the two have formed an impressive synergy in attack.
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Bologna currently sit eighth in Serie A, two points behind Milan and three behind Fiorentina, and they will be facing off against Atalanta in the Coppa Italia quarterfinals. However, they’ve fared drastically worse in the Champions League, taking just two points from their first six matches, scoring one goal and conceding seven. With only two matches remaining vs. Dortmund and Sporting, it seems their European journey will come to an end in the following weeks.
Nevertheless, with Orsolini providing the goods in attack, there’s reason to believe that Bologna can not only make another deep push for a top-six finish and a European qualification — but challenge for the Coppa Italia title as well.
By: Scot Munroe / @scot_munroe
Featured Image: @GabFoligno / Mondadori Portfolio