Bologna are waiting for medical tests on Roberto Piccoli after the forward felt discomfort in the flexor muscles of his right thigh during the first half against Inter on Saturday.
The concern at Casteldebole is that Piccoli could be sidelined for around three weeks, an absence that would place Bologna’s forthcoming league programme under pressure. Cagliari, Milan and Monza are the matches he is most likely to miss if that estimate is confirmed, while the trip to Parma could also become uncertain.
The examinations scheduled for Monday will establish the precise nature of the injury and offer a clearer recovery timetable. Until then, Bologna and Raffaele Palladino can only hope that the problem proves less serious than initially feared.
A constant presence through the first seven rounds
Piccoli’s possible absence matters not simply because it would remove another option from the squad, but because he has been Bologna’s most regular attacking reference since the beginning of the season.
The striker started each of the opening seven Serie A fixtures, retaining his place through the change from Tedesco to Palladino. Among the club’s three centre-forward options, he had consistently been regarded as the player most ready to lead the line.
That continuity has given Bologna a dependable outlet in attack, regardless of the transition on the bench. A prolonged lay-off would therefore force Palladino to reconsider more than his substitutions and rotation: it could alter the balance of the entire forward department.
Inter match underlined his importance
His early departure against Inter had an immediate impact on Bologna’s plans. Palladino said afterwards that the injury had disrupted an approach prepared specifically for the contest.
“Yes, it affected us,” the coach said. “We knew Inter would press us high and we wanted Piccoli isolated in one-versus-one situations.”
The forced change removed a route Bologna had intended to use against Inter’s defensive pressure, underlining why the fitness update carries significance beyond one match.
Palladino also expressed his hope that the forward’s issue would not be severe. “Regarding Piccoli, we hope it is nothing serious,” he said after the game.
The tests will now determine whether Bologna must plan the next phase of their Serie A season without a player who has started every league match so far.
