Our prediction for this Champions League match:
Bologna will look to put an end to their four-game winless run when they face Shakhtar Donetsk in their Champions League opener. As several first-team regulars left the club in the summer transfer window, including new Man Utd striker Joshua Zirkzee, the Rossoblu have yet to find their best form in the new Serie A campaign. Thiago Motta is no longer in charge of the team and, taking everything into account, home win should not be considered. Both Ferguson and Cambiaghi are sidelined with injuries, while Holm and El Azzouzi are major doubts.
The Miners, on the other hand, rolled over Karpaty Lviv 5-2 in their last league match. Shakhtar Donetsk aim to make a flying start to their Champions League campaign as well, but beating Bologna at Stadio Renato Dall’Ara is easier said than done. Therefore, we believe that there is a big value in betting on draw. A man to watch in the away team will be midfielder Artem Bondarenko, who scored a hat-trick at the weekend.
Highlighted Team (Bologna):
Bologna FC 1909 is an Italian football club founded in 1909 and playing in the Serie A. The club hosts its games in the Stadio Renato Dall’Ara which holds a capacity of 40500 seats. The stadium is named after their former chairman. The club plays its home games in the Stadio Renato Dall’Ara since 1927.
The club colors of Bologna are blue and red and is one of the most successful football clubs in Italy winning the Serie A 7times and the Coppa Italia 2 times in the clubs history. Lately Bologna is not performing like their glory times anymore. The club is often relegated to the Serie B but manages to get back to the Serie A on and off. Another important person in the club is Joey Saputo, Canadian but with Italian roots, which is owner of Bologna.
Well known football players that wore the blue red colors of Bologna in their career are: Falcone, Dokovic, Nakata, Gillet, Pagliuca, Vieri and Zagorakis.