BOLOGNA, ITALY - SEPTEMBER 18: Lukasz Skorupski of Bologna save a penalty from Georgiy Sudakov of FC Shakhtar Donetsk during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD1 match between Bologna FC 1909 and FC Shakhtar Donetsk at Stadio Renato Dall'Ara on September 18, 2024 in Bologna, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)

Bologna begin their Champions League adventure with a fairly disappointing home draw against Shakhtar Donetsk, as Lukasz Skorupski saved an early Georgiy Sudakov penalty.

The Rossoblu were in Europe for the first time since the 2002 Intertoto Cup Final, while their only previous European Cup experience was in 1964. Vincenzo Italiano was still looking for his first win at the club after three draws and a defeat, with Lewis Ferguson, Nicolò Cambiaghi and Oussama El Azzouzi injured.

See how it unfolded on the Liveblog.

The game was played under torrential rain at the Stadio Dall’Ara and that did not help Stefan Posch, who bundled into the back of Eguinaldo as they ran onto a long ball over the top in the second minute. However, Lukasz Skorupski stayed strong and saved the Georgiy Sudakov penalty to keep the scores level.

Bologna fought back, Santiago Castro’s diving header deflected wide and nobody on the end of the Dan Ndoye pull-back, while Danylo Sikan was in the wrong place at the wrong time to get an elbow in the face after a Skorupski clearance, which looked as if it broke his nose.

Jhon Lucumi had an effort charged down on a corner, but Shakhtar were unlucky to also lose Yukhym Konoplia to a hip injury, forcing their second substitution of the first half.

The hosts had a huge chance to take the lead in first half stoppages, when Ndoye’s slide-rule pass released birthday boy Castro, but Riznyk rushed off his line and made himself big for the crucial save.

The Shakhtar Donetsk goalkeeper was decisive again on 52 minutes when Nikola Moro flicked on a ball over the top, as Giovanni Fabbian let it bounce and saw the strike parried from point-blank range by Riznyk.

Ndoye robbed Vinicius Tobias for a curler charged down and Castro’s follow-up was deflected onto the side-netting, but the Rossoblu’s finishing let them down.

In stoppages, Dallinga’s glancing header on a Samuel Iling-Junior cross was deflected just wide and Ndoye’s effort from the following Bologna corner smothered.

Bologna 0-0 Shakhtar

Saved penalty: Sudakov 4 (S)

Player statistic

1st half
Stefan Posch Yellow card 2'    
    4' Missed penalty Georgiy Sudakov
    12' Yellow card Valeriy Bondar
2nd half
Santiago Castro Yellow card 58'    
    70' Yellow card Vinicius Tobias
    84' Yellow card Taras Stepanenko
    88' Yellow card Marlon Gomes

Match statistic

48
Possession %
52
17
Total shots
4
4
Shots on target
1
6
Shots off target
1
7
Blocked shots
2
8
Corners
3
1
Offsides
1
13
Fouls
12
Bologna
Shakhtar Donetsk

Starting lineups

1
Goalkeeper
22
78'
26
Defender
31
Defender
3
Defender
80
Midfielder
78'
6
Midfielder
65'
8
Midfielder
11
Attacker
7
65'
9
Attacker
65'
31
Goalkeeper
22
Defender
13
Defender
5
Defender
26
Defender
41'
21
Midfielder
79'
8
Midfielder
10
Midfielder
79'
14
Attacker
35'
7
Attacker
11
Attacker
79'

Substitutes

20
Midfielder
15
Defender
5
Defender
34
Goalkeeper
21
Attacker
2
Defender
16
Defender
18
Midfielder
65'
14
65'
24
Attacker
65'
82
Midfielder
78'
33
Defender
78'
4
Midfielder
38
Attacker
29
Midfielder
16
Defender
9
Attacker
72
Goalkeeper
18
Defender
39
Attacker
35'
17
Defender
41'
6
Midfielder
79'
2
Attacker
79'
30
Midfielder
79'

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