Getting closer to qualifying
In the ranking, LOSC is currently 14th Champions League (for the moment qualified for the play-offs/round of 16), 4 days from the end. For its part, Bologna FC 1909 is 31th (currently eliminated).
A sleeping history
Although the city of Bologna is home to the oldest university in the Western world (founded in 1088), its Football club was born in 1909, the date written in the team's full name: Bologna Football Club 1909.
Like Stade de Reims in France, Bologna is a club that was one of the most important in Italy (7 Serie A titles), but whose bottom line dates back to the 1960s.
After several trips back and forth in the lower divisions, Bologna resurfaced in the early 1990s, and notably managed to participate in a few UEFA Cup (C3) campaigns, where the club did well (quarters in 1991, semis in 1999, eighth in 2000).
An almost century-old stadium
It's a rustic stadium that LOSC is preparing to discover on Wednesday. With 38,279 places, the Stadio Renato Dall'Aara is the temple of Rossoblù for almost 100 years. The venue, which bears the name of a former president of the club, notably hosted the 1990 World Cup.
Italy, major opponent of LOSC in European Cups
Bologna is on the 7thth Italian club crossed by LOSC in UEFA competitionsafter Parma, Fiorentina, AC Milan, Genoa, Inter and Juventus. No European nation does better on the road to the Mastiffs in official matches.
60 years later in the Champions League
If Bologna has played around fifty matches in UEFA competitions, its presence in C1 is almost unprecedented. THE Rossoblù had so far only played one round in 1964-65, eliminated by Anderlecht in the round of 16. We therefore had to wait 60 years to see the Italian team again in the most beautiful club competition. The team owes its qualification to its 5th place in Serie A last season.
Adama Soumaoro and Kennet Andersson
Passed by LOSC in 1993-1994, the Swede Kenneth Andersson then scored nearly 30 goals for Bologna between 1996 and 1999. 2021 French champion, the ex-captain of LOSC, Adama Soumaoro spent 3 and a half seasons in Bologna, for 75 matches (2021-2024). Finally, the young Kevin Merciertrained at LOSC, also attended the Bologna FC academy.
In search of a first success
Bologna are yet to win in the Champions League this season. After an inaugural draw against Shakhtar Donetsk (0-0), the Italian club lost to Liverpool (2-0) then to Aston Villa (2-0) before suffering a third consecutive defeat on its lawn, against AS Monaco (0-1).
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