Bologna prepare for Champions League debut with draw at Como, Juventus held

AP , Saturday 14 Sep 2024

Bologna’s preparations for their Champions League debut are not going well though they managed to spoil Como’s first Serie A home match in 21 years on Saturday.

Dusan Vlahovic
Juventus' Serbian forward #09 Dusan Vlahovic (C) and Empoli's Albanian defender #34 Ardian Ismajli (L) fight for the ball during the Italian Serie A football match between Empoli and Juventus at the Carlo Castellani stadium in Empoli, on September 14, 2024. AFP

 

Bologna came from two goals down to salvage a 2-2 draw to gather three points from their opening four matches.

Bologna host Shakhtar Donetsk on Wednesday. Their only other appearance in Europe’s top competition was in 1964 in the preliminary round of the old European Cup.

AC Milan are also winless as they prepare for a Tuesday Champions League match against Liverpool. The Rossoneri hosted promoted Venezia later. Juventus drew at Empoli 0-0.

Como made a great start in the fifth minute when Patrick Cutrone attempted to roll the ball across the six-yard box but it took a huge deflection off Bologna defender Nicolò Casale for an own goal.

Bologna thought they were gifted a way back into the match on the stroke of halftime when referee Marco Piccinini signaled for a penalty following an Alberto Moreno handball, but he revoked his decision and instead gave a free kick because the handball was just outside the area.

Bologna improved after the break but found themselves further behind when Cutrone raced onto a through ball and cut inside past a defender and fired into the far bottom corner.

Tommaso Pobega hit the post for Bologna, who finally pulled one back in the 76th through substitute Santiago Castro.

Another substitute helped the visitors snatch a point when Samuel Iling-Junior curled a fine strike into the top left corner in stoppage time.

Unbeaten sides
 

Juventus, and more surprisingly Empoli, are among six unbeaten sides.

Empoli held Monza and Bologna to draws either side of a shock 2-1 win at Roma. Juventus' perfect start to the season was ruined by Roma in a goalless draw before the international break.

On Saturday, there were few clearcut chances in Empoli although home goalkeeper Devis Vásquez made spectacular saves to fingertip out a Federico Gatti header and deny Dusan Vlahovic in a one on one with the Juventus forward.

Empoli had a good opportunity in the 73rd minute following an Alberto Grassi one-two with Pietro Pellegri but the finish was straight at Mattia Perin.

The host could have won it right at the death but Gatti flew in with a great sliding block to keep out Emanuel Gyasi's close-range effort.

Juventus host PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League on Tuesday.

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