Bologna vs Shakhtar Donetsk predictions: Italians set for frustrating start
- Bologna have drawn six of their last nine matches in Serie A
- Shakhtar Donetsk have scored in 12 of their last 13 Champions League games
- Recommended bet: Draw
Bologna were the surprise package in Serie A last season, finishing fifth in the Italian top-flight and securing Champions League qualification.
They were looking down on the likes of Roma, Lazio and Napoli last term, but manager Thiago Motta has been snapped up by Juventus and star players Riccardo Calafiori and Joshua Zirkzee joined Arsenal and Manchester United respectively in the summer.
They have had a tough start to the new domestic season and kick off their Champions League campaign against Shakhtar Donetsk, who won three of their six group games last season, including a 1-0 victory over Barcelona.
Team news
Bologna's Emil Holm, Nicolo Cambiaghi, Oussama El Azzouzi and Scotland midfielder Lewis Ferguson are injured, but Swiss winger Dan Ndoye returned as a substitute in the weekend draw at Como.
Shakhtar Donetsk goalkeeper Tymur Puzankov (knee) is a long-term injury absentee, but midfielder Artem Bondarenko scored a hat-trick in Saturday's league win against Karpaty.
The stats
Bologna have drawn six of their last nine matches in Serie A, while three of their last four home games have ended 1-1.
The hosts have kept clean sheets in eight of their last nine home wins.
Shakhtar Donetsk have won two of their last three Champions League games by a 1-0 scoreline.
The Ukrainian champions have scored 14 goals in five league matches this season.
Shakhtar have failed to score in only one of their last 13 Champions League games.
Prediction
Bologna's top-five finish in Serie A last season came at a price as inspirational manager Motta, Italy defender Calafiori and Dutch forward Zirkzee moved on to bigger clubs.
Motta's successor Vincenzo Italiano is winless in his first four Serie A games, overseeing score draws with Udinese, Empoli and Como and a 3-0 defeat at Napoli.
Bologna's last five home games have all ended in draws and the stalemate is an appealing bet against a streetwise Shakhtar side who were unfortunate not to make the Champions League round of 16 in 2023-24.
They did the double over Antwerp in their group, also losing 2-1 away to Barcelona and beating the Catalans 1-0 in the return fixture.
A 5-3 aggregate defeat to Marseille in the Europa League play-off round ended Shakhtar's continental campaign, but they pose a serious goal threat.
They have scored in 12 of their last 13 Champions League matches, including two clashes with Real Madrid in October 2022, and warmed up for the trip to Bologna with a 5-2 league win over Karpaty.
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