The hunt for theFreuler’s alter ego a Casteldebole starts this morning at 11, with the first training session of the week that will lead to Sunday’s challenge with Verona. Freuler is disqualified e Italian will have to baptize the rossoblù who will play in his place. In the championship it is an unprecedented scenario since up to now the Swiss international has played all 27 matches as a starter (36 out of 37 in total). This season there is only one precedent in Champions League, when Freuler was banned by the sports judge in the last match of the maxi-group, the away match at Sporting (1-1) on 29 January. Well, on that occasion Italiano in midfield christened the pair Pobega Ferguson. Always in the Champions League, and always in Lisbon but against Benfica (0-0), on December 11th Italiano made Ferguson sit on the bench by technical choice and fielded the Ferguson-Moro tandem. Faint indications of replacement of a pawn that was essential for Motta and is today for Italiano.

The dress rehearsals begin today and in a few days’ time they could be travelling in the wake of the most absolute abundance. Let it be Holm and Pedrola, both victims of muscular problems, are in fact sensing the possibility of starting to work in a group again between now and Sunday. The first steps, inevitably, will be steps at a reduced intensity. But it is still important news for a Bologna who can only benefit from having an empty infirmary.

At that point it will be up to Italiano to juggle the choices, knowing that from now until the end of May there will certainly be two midweek commitments, the first and second leg of the semi-finals of Coppa Italia with theEmpoli, hoping to then catch a third: the final at the Olimpico.

mv