Bologna vs Lille Preview: Team News & Prediction

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Bologna have been much-improved in the last month or so but have struggled in the UEFA Champions League as they face a Lille side that have enjoyed some famous wins this season.

Kick-off date/time: Wednesday 27th November, 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+

Bologna Preview: Frustrated Bologna

Despite their improvement over the last month and a half or so, as mentioned, Bologna do come into this one on the back of a 3-0 defeat to an in-form Lazio side at the Stadio Olimpico at the weekend thanks to goals from Samuele Gigot, Mattia Zaccagni and Fisayo Dele-Bashiru.

Prior to that loss to Lazio, Bologna had recovered from a slow-ish start to Vincenzo Italiano’s reign by heading into the November international break unbeaten in nine Serie A games but they remain winless in their opening four UEFA Champions League matches.

Lille Preview: Genius of Genesio

Former Olympique Lyonnais and Stade Rennais boss Bruno Genesio replaced Paulo Fonseca in charge of Lille over the summer and the northerners have enjoyed some famous wins, including victories over Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid in the UEFA Champions League.

The visitors come into this one on the back of a 1-0 defeat of Genesio’s former side Rennes at Stade Pierre-Mauroy at the weekend. That means they are now unbeaten in their last 11 matches across all competitions.

Bologna Team News: Key issues

Bologna have been dealing with long-term injuries throughout the campaign and some key men remain unavailable such as Switzerland international duo Michel Aebischer and Dan Ndoye with goalkeeper Lukasz Skorupski also sidelined.

Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Ravaglia; Posch, Beukema, Lucumi, Miranda; Freuler, Moro; Iling-Junior, Fabbian, Orsolini; Castro

Unavailable: Skorupski (Injured), El Azzouzi (Injured), Aebischer (Injured), Ndoye (Injured)

Questionable:

Lille Team News: No Andre Gomes

Key attackers Hakon Haraldsson and Edon Zhegrova have returned to full fitness but Lille are without Portugal international midfielder Andre Gomes, whilst Nabil Bentaleb continues to recover from suffering a cardiac arrest over the summer.

Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Chevalier; Mandi, Diakite, Alexsandro, Gudmundsson; Andre, Bouaddi; Zhegrova, Ang. Gomes, Sahraoui; David

Unavailable: Santos (Injured), Umtiti (Injured), And. Gomes (Injured), Bentaleb (Illness), Mbappe (Injured)

Questionable:

Key Stats

Bologna 1-0 defeat against Monaco on Matchday 4 was their first ever defeat in a UEFA competition match at home (P25 W15 D9 L1).
Bologna are without a win in their last six UEFA competition matches (D2 L4).
Bologna have not scored a goal in their previous four matches in the UEFA Champions League this season. They are the only team yet to score in the league phase.
Lille have won four of their previous six UEFA competition matches away from home against Italian teams (L2).
Lille have lost only three of their last 20 UEFA competition matches (W11 D6).
Lille have kept four clean sheets in their previous six UEFA competition matches away from home against Italian teams.
Lille have only failed to score in one of their last 16 UEFA competition matches.
Jonathan David has scored four goals in Lille’s last three UEFA Champions League matches.

Bologna vs Lille Prediction

Bologna played an easy on the eye style of football under Thiago Motta with Vincenzo Italiano implementing the same sort of style. The hosts will likely get on the front foot but they have lacked for a cutting edge and precision in the final third. Lille are once again very difficult to beat with a possession-based style, as was the case last season, and simply appear a stronger side at this stage.

Bologna vs Lille Tip: Double chance – Lille to win or draw