Liverpool will face Bologna within the Champions League on Wednesday night time, and whereas Arne Slot‘s Reds are in robust kind, the Italian facet are caught in mid-table.
Having been the shock package deal of final season’s Serie A, a summer season of high-profile gross sales and the departure of their influential coach has seen a drop in fortunes for Bologna.
With Riccardio Calafiori and Joshua Zirkzee leaving for Arsenal and Man United respectively and Thiago Motta vacating the dugout to affix Juventus, it has been a problem thus far this marketing campaign.
That was no totally different on Saturday as Bologna have been held to a 1-1 draw by Atalanta, having seen centre-back Jhon Lucumi despatched off early within the second half.
Supervisor Vincenzo Italiano set his facet up with just one change from their 0-0 draw with Shakhtar Donetsk to open the Champions League, with Michel Aebischer named in midfield.
It was Atalanta who had the higher of the probabilities within the first half, although goalkeeper Lukasz Skorupski was available to disclaim Ademola Lookman in a one-on-one.
Bologna then struck nearly instantly after the break, with striker Santiago Castro turning brilliantly into area earlier than bending the ball past Atalanta’s Marco Carnesecchi for 1-0.
Quickly after, the referee awarded Atalanta a penalty as Lucumi appeared to deliver Charles De Ketelaere down within the field, just for VAR to downgrade the spot-kick to a free-kick exterior the world and improve a yellow card to a straight crimson for Bologna’s No. 26.
Left to fend for almost all of the second half with 10 males, Bologna took a rearguard strategy, solely to be overwhelmed by a surprising effort from Lazar Samardzic with a minute left.
The 1-1 draw means Bologna have nonetheless solely gained as soon as on this season’s Serie A, with 4 attracts and a loss seeing Italiano’s facet sit twelfth within the desk.
It comes with captain Lewis Ferguson, ahead Nicolo Cambiaghi and midfielder Oussama El Azzouzi all out with critical knee accidents, whereas Saturday’s goalscorer Castro has picked up a knock.
“I believed he had cramp, but it surely was a knock to the calf muscle and so we determined to substitute him,” Italiano informed Sky Sport Italia after the sport.
“It’s no less than good that we held out to the ultimate whistle with a degree.”
On the journey to Anfield, he stated: “From tomorrow we’ll see who’s in good condition, who can recuperate and put together for yet one more battle.
“We all know there are errors we made immediately that we can’t afford to make once more, as Liverpool’s strikers are so environment friendly and we’ll be in a exceptional ambiance of Anfield.”
Bologna XI vs. Atalanta (4-3-3): Skorupski; Posch, Beukema, Lucumi, Lykogiannis; Freuler, Aebischer (Erlic 68′), Fabbian (Urbanski 46′); Orsolini (Casale 54′), Ndoye (Holm 84′), Castro (Dallinga 68′)
Subs not used: Ravaglia, Bagnolini, Moro, Karlsson, Iling-Junior, Corazza, Odgaard, De Silvestri, Dominguez, Miranda