Preview: Bologna vs. Monaco – prediction, team news, lineups

Still seeking their first goal and first win in the Champions League, Bologna will welcome unbeaten Monaco to Stadio Dall’Ara on Tuesday.

While the Serie A side have picked up just one point so far, their French counterparts sit inside the top eightputting them on course for an automatic place in the knockout phase.

Match preview

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Back in Europe for the first time in decades, Bologna have struggled to impose themselves at Europe’s top table, proving unable to build on the one point gained from their opening draw at home to Shakhtar Donetsk.

The Rossoblu twice lost 2-0 in England last month – at both Liverpool and Aston Villa – leaving them with no goals to show for their efforts so far.

Becoming the first team to fire blanks in each of their first three Champions League fixtures since Austria Vienna did so in 2013, the Emilian club have attempted the most shots without scoring this term (41).

That lack of ruthlessness also resulted in a series of draws which dropped them into the bottom half of Serie Athough two wins in a week have recently brightened the mood.

Days after a home game against AC Milan was called off due to hazardous weather conditions, Vincenzo Italiano‘s men claimed a 2-0 win in Cagliari, before captain Riccardo Orsolini struck for the third time in as many league games to beat Lecce 1-0 last weekend.

It may have been only their third win of the season, but Bologna have still lost just once in Serie A and – looking back through the history books – are unbeaten in all 28 previous home matches in European competition.

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By contrast with their hosts, Monaco have begun their league-phase campaign in fine style, with an impressive seven-point haul including three from an opening-day win over Barcelona.

After a subsequent 2-2 draw versus Dinamo Zagreb, the Ligue 1 side then cruised past Red Star Belgrade, recording a comprehensive 5-1 success against the Serbian champions – a final tally of 27 shots was their joint-most in a Champions League match.

Takumi Minamino bagged a brace on that occasion, but Monaco have had the most different goalscorers of any team so far (seven), and only three sides have scored more goals.

Emboldened by such a start, Swiss striker Breel Embolo has stated a top-eight finish is their aim, thereby avoiding the playoffs, but there may yet be need for some caution in the camp.

Les Monegasques have won just four of their last 19 away European matches before heading to Emilia-Romagna, while recent results suggest they have lost some momentum.

After starting the season with an 11-game unbeaten run, Adi Hutter‘s men fell to a first defeat in the against Cote D’Azur rivals Nice, then were beaten 1-0 at home by Angers, marking the first time they had lost successive league matches for more than a year.

Bologna Champions League form:

Bologna form (all competitions):

Monaco Champions League form:

Monaco form (all competitions):

Team News

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Bologna boss Vincenzo Italiano was able to welcome back long-term absentee Lewis Ferguson at the weekend, as the Scotland midfielder’s late substitute appearance completed his comeback from an ACL injury sustained in April.

Charalampos Lykogiannis, Oussama El Azzouzi and Martin Erlic are still sidelined, though, and Michel Aebischer continues to struggle with a thigh problem.

Two other Swiss internationals, Remo Freuler and Dan Ndoyecould start for the hosts on Tuesday evening, meeting up with national-team colleague Breel Embolo, who leads Monaco’s attack.

Another Switzerland stalwart, ex-Chelsea midfielder Denis Zakariahas missed two games with an adductor injury so may be unavailable at the Dall’Ara.

Folarin Balogun and Mohammed Salisu are also confined to the treatment room, but defensive duo Jordan Theses and Vanderson will both be back in the squad following suspension.

Young winger Maghnes Akliouche is set to start in support of Embolo, having been directly involved in one goal in each of his first three Champions League appearances.

Bologna possible starting lineup:
Skorupski; Posch, Beukema, Lucumi, Miranda; Freuler, Brother; Orsolini, Urbanski, Ndoye; Castro

Monaco possible starting lineup:
Majecki; Vanderson, Singo, Kehrer, Henrique; Camara, Magassa; Akliouche, Minamino, Ben Seghir; Piston

We say: Bologna 1-1 Monaco

Although Monaco have just experienced their first blip, they have still won six of 10 Ligue 1 matches this season – and two from three in the Champions League.

Bologna, meanwhile, have only beaten Serie A strugglers so far, posting too many draws as a result of failing to take their chances. Their wait for a win may go on.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.

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