Benfica vs Bologna Preview: Team News & Prediction

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Benfica have an entertaining and exciting squad but they need to find some consistency as they now prepare to face an improving Bologna side beginning to attune to Vincenzo Italiano.

Kick-off date/time: Wednesday 11th December, 2024: UK – 8:00pm / US ET – 3:00pm / US PT – 12:00pm

How to watch on TV: UK – TNT Sports / US – Not televised

How to watch online: UK – Discovery+ / US – Paramount+

Benfica Preview: Finding consistency

Benfica re-appointed former Wolverhampton Wanderers boss Bruno Lage during the September international break and he has generally performed well with 14 victories and two defeats in their 16 matches across all competitions since his return to Estadio da Luz.

They averaging three goals per game, too, with 48 scored and 11 conceded. Benfica come into this one on the back of a 1-0 defeat of Vitoria Guimaraes in the Portuguese capital at the weekend and they have now enjoyed five successive victories since losing to Bayern Munich.

Bologna Preview: Developing the style

Thiago Motta left with a few key players over the summer but Bologna brought in former Fiorentina boss Vincenzo Italiano. Italiano has said his style is very similar to Motta but their performances have been a little underwhelming thus far, albeit they are now improving.

The visitors now come into this one on the back of a 2-2 draw against Motta’s new club Juventus in Turin at the weekend. They have been strong in Serie A so far this season but results have been poor in the UEFA Champions League with just one point collected from their five matches.

Benfica Team News: Balance in attack

A key reason for Bruno Lage’s success so far back in charge at Benfica has been the impressive balance he has found between key attackers such as Angel Di Maria and Kerem Akturkoglu. They have a couple of absentees, though, such as Tiago Gouveia and Renato Sanches.

Predicted XI (4-3-3): Trubin; Bah, Araujo, Otamendi, Carreras; Aursnes, Luis, Kokcu; Di Maria, Pavlidis, Akturkoglu

Unavailable: Gouveia (Injured), Sanches (Fitness)

Questionable:

Bologna Team News: Midfield issues

Bologna have been dealing with fluctuations in terms of available personnel in midfield positions and Switzerland international Michel Aebischer remains sidelined. Greek full-back Charalampos Lykogiannis is also sidelined due to a thigh injury.

Predicted XI (4-3-3): Skorupski; Posch, Beukema, Lucumi, Miranda; Fabbian, Freuler, Ferguson; Iling-Junior, Dallinga, Ndoye

Unavailable: Lykogiannis (Injured), El Azzouzi (Injured), Aebischer (Injured), Orsolini (Injured)

Questionable:

Key Stats

This is the first UEFA club competition match between these two teams.
Benfica have won only two of their last nine UEFA club competition matches against Italian teams (D3 L4).
Benfica have won four of their last six matches in the UEFA Champions League proper.
Only one of Benfica’s last 36 UEFA club competition matches finished without a goal being scored.
All of Bologna’s previous four UEFA club competition matches against Portuguese teams were against Sporting CP (W2 D1 L1). Most recently in the 1998/99 UEFA Cup first round when Bologna defeated them 2-0 away and 2-1 at home.
Bologna are without a win in their last seven UEFA club competition matches (D2 L5).
Bologna have lost their last four UEFA Champions League matches.
Bologna have won only two of their last 11 UEFA club competition matches away from home (D2 L7).

Benfica vs Bologna Prediction

Benfica have been very impressive since the appointment of Bruno Lage and that has included some famous European wins such as against Atletico Madrid and Monaco in the last couple of months. They now face a Bologna side that have struggled to even create and score goals in the continent, despite their improvement domestically and there may be a mindset to shift focus just to Serie A with Benfica, especially at home, firm favourites for this one.

Benfica vs Bologna Tip: Benfica to win