On December 11, 2024, Benfica will visit Bologna for a pivotal UEFA Champions League battle at Signal Iduna Park, Dortmund. For both sides, this game is very important as Benfica wants to guarantee a place in the knockout levels while Bologna tries to save their European campaign. Letexier F. from France will referee the match. As the tournament gets into its latter stages, both sides will be striving for a victory to confirm their place in the group.
In a crucial European game, Benfica and Bologna will square two squads with different forms against one another. Benfica has demonstrated outstanding performance in the Champions League and the local league; Bologna has suffered on the European front. Signal Iduna Park will provide this tournament an interesting site. Given both sides need the three points, the environment seems to be tight and high-stakes.
Betting Tips and Match Insights
Benfica’s great performance in prediction games makes them the favourites for today’s Benfica versus Bologna forecast. Benfica is in great position, especially in the Champions League where they are vying for a top-eight finish; Bologna, despite some encouraging local performance, has not scored a goal on open play so far in their European campaign. There is likely to be a strong Benfica performance, so they will want to maximise Bologna’s continental woes. Track Benfica’s Ángel Di María, who has been crucial for their assault. Benfica wants to guarantee automatic qualification, hence this meeting will be crucial for both teams; Bologna depends on a victory to maintain optimism.
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Current Champions League Standings for Benfica vs Bologna, December 11, 2024
The present situation in Liga Portugal and Serie A might be very important for both clubs as they get ready for their pivotal Champions League meeting. While Bologna is trying to overcome obstacles in both Serie A and the Champions League, Benfica will want to gather momentum from their local success.
Benfica Results
Benfica has lately shown great performance in both home and European events. The team’s recent success has much to do with their offensive ability, especially from guys like Ángel Di María. These are their past five match stats:
| Date | Competition | Matchup | Result | W/L |
| 07/12/2024 | Liga Portugal | Benfica vs Vitoria Guimaraes | 1-0 | W |
| 01/12/2024 | Liga Portugal | Arouca vs Benfica | 0-2 | W |
| 27/11/2024 | UEFA Champions League | Monaco vs Benfica | 2-3 | W |
| 23/11/2024 | Taça de Portugal | Benfica vs Estrela | 7-0 | W |
| 10/11/2024 | Liga Portugal | Benfica vs FC Porto | 4-1 | W |
With 10 victories in their past 11 games across all levels, Benfica’s run is outstanding. At home, they have been very dominating and have secured multiple clean-sheet triumphs. Key to their prospects in this next game will be their offensive power and defensive steadiness.
Bologna Results
The results of Bologna in recent weeks have been more uneven; their European performance is especially unsatisfactory. Finding the back of the net has been challenging for the squad in their Champions League campaign, which makes challenging for a top position in the group rather tough. The last five games Bologna played were:
| Date | Competition | Matchup | Result | W/L |
| 07/12/2024 | Serie A | Juventus vs Bologna | 2-2 | D |
| 03/12/2024 | Coppa Italia | Bologna vs Monza | 4-0 | W |
| 30/11/2024 | Serie A | Bologna vs Venezia | 3-0 | W |
| 27/11/2024 | UEFA Champions League | Bologna vs Lille | 1-2 | L |
| 24/11/2024 | Serie A | Lazio vs Bologna | 3-0 | L |
Although Bologna has had a good run domestically, with strong Serie A performance, their lack of Champions League score raises serious issues. Having only one point from their first five group-stage contests, they have a difficult challenge ahead of them in this pivotal encounter against Benfica.
Benfica vs Bologna Head-to-Head
The historical meetings between Benfica and Bologna are limited, with the teams having faced each other only a few times. Here are the results of their last five encounters:
| Date | Competition | Matchup | Result |
| 07/12/1998 | UEFA Cup | Benfica vs Bologna | 2-0 |
| 21/10/1998 | UEFA Cup | Bologna vs Benfica | 0-1 |
| 15/03/1997 | UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup | Bologna vs Benfica | 1-1 |
| 08/03/1997 | UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup | Benfica vs Bologna | 3-0 |
| 28/11/1996 | UEFA Cup | Bologna vs Benfica | 0-0 |
Benfica has had the advantage in their interactions with Bologna; they have won three of the past five matches. Though precedent points Benfica to have the advantage, Bologna will be trying to surpass their past performance against the Portuguese club in their next game.
Benfica Probable Lineup
For the upcoming match, Benfica is expected to field a well-balanced lineup with experienced players in key positions. The team will look to dominate possession and build from the back, relying on their solid defense and dynamic attack.
GK: Trubin
DF: Bah, Araujo, Otamendi, Carreras
MF: Aursnes, Luis, Kokcu
FW: Di Maria, Pavlidis, Akturkoglu
Bologna Probable Lineup
Bologna will focus on a solid defensive structure while trying to exploit counter-attacks. Despite missing a few key players, they will rely on their core to keep the game competitive.
GK: Skorupski
DF: Posch, Beukema, Lucumi, Miranda
MF: Freuler, Pobega, Ndoye, Ferguson
FW: Dominguez, Castro
INJURED AND QUESTIONABLE PLAYERS
Here is the injury status information presented in a table format:
| Player | Country | Injury | Status |
| Aebischer M. | Bologna | Muscle Injury | Will not play |
| Cambiaghi N. | Bologna | Knee Injury | Will not play |
| El Azzouzi O. | Bologna | Knee Injury | Will not play |
| Lykogiannis C. | Bologna | Injury | Will not play |
| Orsolini R. | Bologna | Thigh Injury | Will not play |
| Gouveia T. | Benfica | Shoulder Injury | Questionable |
| Sanches R. | Benfica | Muscle Injury | Questionable |
This table summarizes the injury details for players who are expected to miss the match or have a questionable status.
Key Factors to Watch
As we look ahead to the Benfica vs Bologna prediction, here are the key factors to keep in mind:
- Benfica’s attacking form: With players like Ángel Di María in great form, Benfica’s attack is likely to prove too strong for Bologna;
- Bologna’s struggles in front of goal: Bologna is the only team yet to score from open play in the Champions League, which could prove decisive;
- Injuries: Renato Sanches will miss out for Benfica, while Bologna’s Riccardo Orsolini, Michel Aebischer, and Charalampos Lykogiannis are all doubts;
- Benfica’s home advantage: The Portuguese side has been dominant at home, with 10 wins in their last 11 home games;
- Bologna’s European struggles: Bologna has failed to impress in the Champions League, and their chances of qualification are slim;
- Form of key players: Both teams rely on key players, such as Di María for Benfica and Pobega for Bologna;
- Bologna’s need for a win: Bologna must win this match to keep their hopes of advancing alive;
- Benfica’s defensive solidity: Despite their attacking strength, Benfica’s defense has been solid, often keeping clean sheets;
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Free Tips on Benfica vs Bologna
Examining the Benfica vs Bologna game requires one to take into account many elements that could affect the result. Analysing previous team performance, head-to–head stats, and individual performance may help one get important understanding of what to anticipate on game. Furthermore not disregarded should be outside factors like weather, pitch conditions, and team drive as these greatly affect the game.
- Recent Team Form: Both teams come into this match with different levels of confidence. Benfica’s strong form in recent games, with multiple victories, suggests they are on a winning streak. On the other hand, Bologna has been struggling in the Champions League, failing to secure victories and not scoring from open play in most of their matches.
- Injuries and Suspensions: Injuries can dramatically shift the balance of a match. For Benfica, the absence of Renato Sanches is notable, while Bologna is also missing key players like Riccardo Orsolini due to injury. The availability of these players could affect the attacking power and overall performance of both teams.
- Home Advantage: Benfica plays at home in this match, and their recent record at Estadio da Luz has been solid. Historically, the Portuguese side performs better on home turf. Bologna, with their poor away record in the Champions League, may struggle to adapt to Benfica’s home atmosphere and the pressure of playing away.
- Team Motivation and Stakes: Benfica is pushing for qualification to the Champions League knockout stages and has more at stake in this match. Bologna, with their chances of advancement slim, may lack the same level of motivation. Teams fighting for a top spot tend to perform better under pressure.
- Tactics and Style of Play: Benfica’s high-intensity attacking style, led by Ángel Di María, could prove overwhelming for Bologna’s defense, which has struggled in previous encounters. The match could be a clash of styles, with Benfica looking to dominate possession and Bologna potentially focusing on counter-attacks, but lacking the offensive firepower to exploit this strategy.
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Benfica vs Bologna Prediction 2024
Benfica is in great form and Bologna is having trouble finding their rhythm, hence it appears probable that the Portuguese team will win this Champions League match. Benfica is the preferred team for this game based on their most recent performance especially in offence. Although Bologna could get a draw, their lack of goals in the tournament raises serious issues. The Benfica versus Bologna odds point to the home side, hence we expect Benfica to win fairly in this pivotal game.
Our Prediction: Benfica 2-1 Bologna
| Prediction Type | Prediction | Odds |
| Match Result | Benfica to Win | 1.59 |
| Total Goals | Over 2.5 | 1.71 |
| Both Teams to Score | Yes | 1.78 |
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