Benfica vs Bologna

Bologna’s UEFA Champions League credentials are on the line ahead of their first-ever trip to the Estadio da Luz to encounter Benfica.

Benfica got their topsy-turvy Champions League campaign back on track with a dramatic 3-2 win at Monaco last time out, ending a two-game winless streak in the competition’s league phase. With three wins from five games, Bruno Lage’s men are firmly in contention for knockout progression, unlike last season when they suffered elimination in the group stages. A 1-0 home win against Viktoria Guimaraes over the weekend kept the Eagles in the Primeira Liga title picture and extended their winning run in all competitions to five games, setting them up perfectly for this must-win fixture. However, Benfica must defy history to get three vital points over the line, considering they’ve notoriously struggled against Italian opposition in major European competitions (W11, D7, L19).

As for Bologna, they’ll be out to capitalize on Benfica’s poor record of just one win from their last six Champions League home matches (D1, L4) and finally put another point on the board. Since a tepid 0-0 home draw against Shakhtar Donetsk on day one, Vincenzo Italiano’s men have lost four consecutive European matches, netting just one goal! They were prolific at the weekend, establishing a two-goal cushion in a high-profile Serie A clash against Juventus, only to draw 2-2. That result at least extended the visitors’ unbeaten run to three games (W2, D1), suggesting they could upset the apple cart in Lisbon. However, it’s worth mentioning that ‘I Rossoblu’ are the only team in the Champions League yet to take a lead this season!