Both among Italy's most in-form clubs, mid-table rivals Bologna and Monza meet at Stadio Renato Dall'Ara on Sunday.
The hosts have won three of their last four in Serie A, while their visitors would join them on 29 points by extending their own unbeaten streak.
Match preview
© Reuters
By doing the double over Fiorentina last weekend - winning back-to-back away games in the process - Bologna ensured their place in the top half of the Serie A standings, just ahead of Empoli, Juventus and this week's opponents.
Winning 2-1 at Stadio Franchi - thanks to goals from Riccardo Orsolini and Stefan Posch, either side of the break - meant they had beaten the Tuscan side home and away for the first time since 1990.
Curiously, the same two scorers had been on target a week earlier, versus Spezia at Dall'Ara, and that pair's form on the wing and in defence respectively has helped Thiago Motta's men climb the table in 2023.
Following a slow start in Emilia-Romagna, since Motta's first league win as Bologna boss his team have won seven of their 11 Serie A fixtures, while collecting a total of 22 points - fewer only than Napoli, Inter and Juventus across the same time period.
As they aim to prolong such superb form, precedent is certainly on the Rossoblu's side when it comes to getting the better of Monza: having won October's reverse fixture 2-1 - with Orsolini on the scoresheet again - they have lost to them just once in nine league meetings.
© Reuters
Like his opposite number, Monza coach Raffaele Palladino is one of Serie A's youngest coaches, and both men made their dugout debut this season on the same matchday - back in the seventh round.
In 15 games since, only the so-called 'big seven' - Napoli, Inter, Roma, Lazio, Milan, Atalanta and Juventus - have accrued more points than Monza (25), who have two more than Bologna during that spell.
Palladino's magic touch seemed to have deserted him on Monday night, though, when his side trailed struggling Sampdoria 2-1 in second-half stoppage time, but Matteo Pessina's last-gasp spot kick salvaged a draw with the Ligurians and brought Monza's unbeaten streak to seven league matches.
Only promoted to Italy's top tier for the first time last term, the Biancorossi have not only recovered from a shaky start to do the double over fallen giants Juve, but they also held Inter to a draw last month - showing they fear no-one in their quest to secure a second season among the elite.
Well clear of danger and sitting just outside the top half of the table, Monza are unlikely to face a tense finish to the campaign and can even harbour ambitions of a remarkable top-seven finish. However, Bologna boast similar plans, so there is plenty at stake when the clubs clash on Sunday.
Team News
© Reuters
Still burdened by a lengthy absence list, Bologna's Thiago Motta will find his resources stretched once again this week, as suspended defender Jhon Lucumi joins several injured teammates on the sidelines.
Nicola Sansone (toe), Kevin Bonifazi (knee) and Lorenzo De Silvestri (calf) all join star striker Marko Arnautovic (foot) in missing out again, while the participation of both Adama Soumaoro and Joshua Zirkzee is in doubt.
With both Lucumi and Soumaoro unavailable, Motta may turn to right-back Stefan Posch to deputise in central defence, alongside young Joaquin Sosa. Meanwhile, Musa Barrow should stand in for Arnautovic up front.
By contrast with their hosts, Monza arrive at Dall'Ara almost fully stocked for the task of claiming their fourth away win since reaching Serie A - Carlos Augusto could be the only player to miss out.
Captain Matteo Pessina has been directly involved in five league goals this term, following his late penalty last time out; however, the Italy midfielder has yet to score or assist a single goal in seven Serie A games against Bologna.
Though Stefano Sensi returns from suspension, Pessina should start in the Biancorossi's engine room again, with Andrea Petagna being supported by Gianluca Caprari and Dany Mota in attack.
Bologna possible starting lineup:
Skorupski; Cambiaso, Posch, Sosa, Kyriakopoulos; Dominguez, Schouten; Orsolini, Soriano, Kyriakopoulos; Barrow
Monza possible starting lineup:
Di Gregorio; Izzo, Mari, Marlon; Ciurria, Pessina, Rovella, D'Alessandro; Caprari, Mota; Petagna
We say: Bologna 2-2 Monza
Under Thiago Motta's management, Bologna have found a way to prosper without Marko Arnautovic, and their attacking threat now comes from several areas.
Both sides are set to score in a contest between confident teams, and a share of the spoils may well be the final outcome.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Jonathan O'Shea
