Bologna’s qualification for the Champions League marked a historic achievement for the club, largely credited to Thiago Motta’s impressive work. However, this success has come at a price.
Juventus poached head coach Thiago Motta, while Riccardo Calafiori moved to Arsenal in the summer transfer window, leaving a major void in the team’s defence. Joshua Zirkzee, Bologna’s top scorer in the 2023/24 campaign with 11 goals, was picked up by Manchester United.
These key losses have visibly affected Bologna’s performance in the early stages of the 2024/25 Serie A campaign. Despite their European qualification, the team remains winless after four matches, having managed only draws against Udinese, Empoli, and Como. The 3-0 defeat against Napoli was the only game that didn’t end in a draw.
The optimism accompanying their Champions League qualification has quickly given way to the harsh reality of Serie A competition. Bologna’s fans, while proud of their European berth, are now witnessing a team struggling to find its footing amidst a challenging domestic season.
Unlike Bologna, Shakthar is no stranger to the Champions League, but the Ukrainian giants continue to face challenges due to the exodus of talent. This summer saw the departures of key players like Denil Castillo (FC Midtjylland) and Giorgio Gocholeishvili (FC Copenhagen), with European clubs increasingly recognizing the depth of talent in Ukrainian football.
Georgiy Sudakov hasn’t left the club yet, but he is one of the talents that is tracked by many top clubs across the continent.
The Ukrainian Premier League, which begins earlier than most European leagues, has been a mixed bag for Shakhtar so far. They started with a 5-0 banger against Vorskla but suffered a 0-1 defeat in the second round against Polissya. A narrow 1-0 win against Livyy Bereh followed, but they were soon tested again, losing 4-3 in a thrilling encounter against Oleksandria.
In the midst of this, the harsh reality of life in Ukraine became evident when their match against Kryvbas was abandoned after 50 minutes due to air raid warnings amid the ongoing Russian invasion.
Despite this, Shakhtar bounced back in their latest outing with a convincing 5-2 win against Karpaty.
Bet hereAlthough Bologna will make their Champions League debut at home in front of their fans, they face a seasoned opponent in Shakhtar Donetsk. The Ukrainians are familiar with the competition and, unlike their Italian counterparts, have already played competitive matches for over a month, giving Shakhtar a clear physical and tactical advantage.
Shakhtar often plays in a difficult mid-block, which implies that Sudakov would be one of the players that could cause problems for Bologna’s plans.
On the other hand, Bologna hasn’t found a way to deal with losing most of their key figures, and it’s dangerous to enter the Champions League not knowing how to play.
Although Bologna has been stripped of their feathers, they hope the home advantage could make a difference in their Champions League opener. However, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Donetsk find the back of the net through the inactivity of the Italians, who lost a great philosopher in Thiago Motta. Bologna lacks confidence, which could prove to be a big problem.
Shakhtar Donetsk is well-positioned to take advantage of Bologna’s lack of form and physical edge. This would allow them to plant their midblock, patiently waiting for their opponent’s errors. If anyone is going to open the score, it would be the Ukrainians.
However, Bologna’s home advantage and the energy from their supporters could help them find a goal of their own, especially with the excitement of making their Champions League debut. Despite the struggles, it seems reasonable to expect Bologna to score at least once, making a draw a likely outcome.
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