Liverpool vs Bologna prediction: EUROPE: Champions League – League phase betting tips on match 2024-10-01 19:00.
[p]Six-time UEFA Champions League (UCL)/European Cup winners Liverpool kicked off this seasonâs league phase with a 3-1 victory away at AC Milan, and now take on another side from Serie A on matchday two, as they welcome Bologna to Anfield. Theyâll be confident of victory as the Reds have won their last ten group/league stage games on home soil in major European competitions, netting 2+ goals in the last nine of those, while seven wins in their eight matches so far this season (L1) only adds to the feel good factor around the club, who currently sit atop the Premier League.[/p]
[p]Liverpoolâs history against Italian clubs perhaps adds a note of caution for favourite backers. Their last European defeat at home came against an Italian side (Atalanta), and no other nationâs clubs have won more often at Anfield than those from Italy in European competition (seven – level with Spain), with Liverpool actually losing three of their most recent five games at home against Serie A clubs (W2). [/p]
[p]A fifth-place finish in Serie A last term saw Bologna qualify for the UCL/European Cup for the first time in 60 years. They began their UCL campaign with a goalless draw at home against Shakhtar Donetsk which perhaps wasnât a great surprise given theyâve been draw specialists so far this season. That was one of five stalemates theyâve already been involved in (W1, L1) under the tutelage of Vincenzo Italiano, who was appointed in the summer.[/p]
[p]Bologna have played six games against English opponents in European competitions previously (W3, D1, L2), with 17 total goals scored across those games at an average of over 2.5 per match. Five of their seven games this term have seen both teams score too, so a goal-fest could certainly be on the cards here.[/p]
[p]Key battle: Liverpool summer signing Federico Chiesa has only played a bit-part role so far, but he could get the nod here given he is unbeaten in 11 career H2Hs with Bologna (W5, D6) and has scored seven goals against Wednesdayâs opponents. Bologna goalkeeper Ćukasz Skorupski could be in for a busy evening as heâs conceded five goals to Chiesa in the pairâs last five games against one another (D3, L2).[/p]
[p]Hot stat: Six of Liverpoolâs seven wins so far this season (all competitions) have seen them net at least one second-half goal.[/p]
[p][i]Written by Ben Olawumi[/i][/p]