FootyChatter.com

This video can not be played Benfica held by Bologna in fiery tie with 10 bookings Benfica missed an opportunity to move closer to the automatic qualifying spots in the Champions League after a goalless draw with Bologna. Striker Vangelis Pavlidis thought he had netted the opener for the hosts in a frantic start - but his beautifully dinked finish over Bologna keeper Lukasz Skorupski was ruled out for offside. Moments later, the Serie A side raced up the other end with Thijs Dallinga but Benfica goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin snuffed out the attack. Greece international Pavlidis was given another golden chance to open the scoring in the 65th minute but Skorupski pulled off a remarkable save from close range. With Benfica pushing forward, Angel Di Maria's strike from inside the box looked destined for the bottom corner but Bologna captain Lewis Ferguson brilliantly blocked. At the other end, Dallinga came close again in the second period but his effort was straight at Trubin from a tight angle. Ten yellow cards were issued by referee Radu Petrescu in a fiery tie in Lisbon with Benfica's Orkun Kokcu fortunate to escape a second booking. Benfica - who could have risen to 11th - sit 15th in the league-phase table with 10 points, while Bologna are 33rd and remain one of four teams without a win. After the opportunity to rate players has closed, the score displayed represents the average from all the submissions by BBC Sport users. Comments can not be loaded To load Comments you need to enable Java Script in your browser Last Updated 11th December 2024 at 21: 55 Please Note: All times UK. Tables are subject to change. The BBC is not responsible for any changes that may be made. Manager: Bruno Lage Formation: 4 - 3 - 3 Manager: Vincenzo Italiano Formation: 4 - 2 - 3 - 1 Manager: Bruno Lage Formation: 4 - 3 - 3 Manager: Vincenzo Italiano Formation: 4 - 2 - 3 - 1 UEFA Champions League All competitions Benfica and Bologna have never faced each other previously, although this will be the third consecutive European campaign in which Benfica have faced Italian opponents (W2 v Juventus and D1 L1 v Internazionale in 2022-23, D1 L1 v Internazionale in 2023-24). This will be Bologna’s first away game against a Portuguese side since September 1998, in a 2-0 win against Sporting CP in the UEFA Cup. Indeed, both of their away matches against Portuguese sides have been against the same opponent, also losing to them in the same competition in March 1991 (0-2). Benfica came from behind to win 3-2 at Monaco on MD5, the latest they’ve trailed in a UEFA Champions League match they’ve gone on to win since beating Zenit St Petersburg in March 2016. The Portuguese side have however won just one of their last six home matches in the competition (D1 L4), following up their 4-0 win over Atlético de Madrid on MD2 with a 1-3 loss to Feyenoord on MD3. Of all 36 sides in this season’s UEFA Champions League, Bologna are the only team that are yet to take the lead in a game. Despite losing four of their five matches in the competition this term (D1), 12 teams have spent more time behind in games than the Italian side (180: 17). Excluding own goals, only Monaco (10), Liverpool and Atalanta (8 each) have had more different goalscorers in this season’s UEFA Champions League than Benfica (7), with the Portuguese side only having more different scorers in the competition in 2022-23 (9), when they reached the quarter-final. Following 2-0 losses at Liverpool and Aston Villa, Bologna could become the eighth different side to lose each of their first three away UEFA Champions League games without scoring a single goal, with Girona already suffering that fate this season. Benfica and Bologna made the joint-most tackles in the UEFA Champions League this season (105), with Bologna’s Stefan Posch leading the way overall in the competition (23). Bologna are the only side yet to score an open play goal in this season’s UEFA Champions League, failing to convert any of their 41 such attempts on goal which have amassed to an x G total of 2. 5. Benfica’s Ángel Di María provided his 37th and 38th assists in the UEFA Champions League last time out against Monaco, taking him clear of David Beckham (36). Only Ryan Giggs (41), Cristiano Ronaldo (40) and Lionel Messi (39) have provided more assists in the competition than him. As well as being Bologna’s only UEFA Champions League scorer this season, Jhon Lucumí has also made the most interceptions (7), completed the most passes (330), made the most clearances (17) and won the most aerial duels (13) for his side. Match ends, Benfica 0, Bologna 0. Second Half ends, Benfica 0, Bologna 0. Corner, Benfica. Conceded by Lukasz Skorupski. Corner, Benfica. Conceded by Emil Holm. Attempt blocked. Zeki Amdouni (Benfica) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Attempt blocked. Arthur Cabral (Benfica) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Jan-Niklas Beste with a headed pass. Sam Beukema (Bologna) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul. Foul by Sam Beukema (Bologna). Arthur Cabral (Benfica) wins a free kick in the attacking half. Attempt missed. Dan Ndoye (Bologna) right footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Sam Beukema following a corner. Corner, Bologna. Conceded by Alexander Bah. Attempt blocked. Samuel Iling-Junior (Bologna) with an attempt from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Remo Freuler with a cross. Corner, Benfica. Conceded by Dan Ndoye. Delay over. They are ready to continue. Delay in match (Bologna). Fourth official has announced 5 minutes of added time. Attempt saved. Zeki Amdouni (Benfica) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Fredrik Aursnes. Remo Freuler (Bologna) is shown the yellow card. Substitution, Bologna. Tommaso Corazza replaces Stefan Posch because of an injury. Offside, Bologna. Dan Ndoye is caught offside. © 2024 BBC. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.