Bologna begin their Champions League campaign when they host Shakhtar Donetsk at the Renato Dall'Ara Stadium. Bologna vs. Shakhtar Donetsk is set to kick off at 12:45 p.m. ET on Wednesday, live on CBS Sports TV platforms and streaming on Paramount+, YouTube TV, Fubo and other streaming platforms.
Bologna is a consensus -110 favorite on the moneyline, with Shakhtar Donetsk +320 to win outright and the odds of a draw at +250. The over/under is 2.5 goals, with the over +105 and the under -127.
Bologna had a meteoric rise up the Serie A table to finish in fifth place with 68 points and earn a spot in the Champions League. This is their first time being in a European competition since 2000, but they are entering with a different team and manager from last season. With the new league phase, these types of matches are incredibly important for both teams if they want to make the round of 16.
Shakhtar have been a mainstay in the Champions League, as this is now their eighth straight year in the Champions League. However, they have only made it to the knockout stage one time in those eight years. They are struggling early on in the Ukrainian Premier League with a record of 3-0-2 so far, so this is a good opportunity to steer the ship in the right direction.
Here are my Bologna vs. Shakhtar Donetsk predictions and Champions League preview for Wednesday, September 18.
Bologna vs. Shakhtar Donetsk Odds, Picks, Prediction
| Shakhtar Donetsk Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+0.5 -120 | 2.5 105o / -130u | +320 |
| Bologna Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-0.5 -115 | 2.5 105o / -130u | -110 |
- Bologna vs. Shakhtar moneyline odds: Bologna -110, Shakhtar +320, Draw +250
- Bologna vs. Shakhtar over/under: 2.5 goals (over +105, under -127)
- Bologna vs. Shakhtar pick: Bologna to win
I am targeting Bologna ML as my best bet for Shakhtar Donetsk vs. Bologna. Make sure to shop around for the best odds using our live soccer odds page.
Bologna Preview
Bologna ares not the team that finished fifth in Serie A last year, but they aren’t significantly different. Losing manager Thiago Motta, star striker Joshua Zirkzee and their best defender Riccardo Calafiori definitely hurts, but the rest of the team is still in tact.
Vincenzo Italiano did a masterful job with Fiorentina in Europe bringing them to back to back Europa Conference League finals, and his style of play isn’t a whole lot different than what Bologna were already doing tactically. He wants his teams to build out of the back in a 3-2 or 4-2 shape and they were really effective, getting the ball into teams' final third and controlling matches. Fiorentina had the best field tilt in Serie A and also was third in xThreat.
They made a really good signing to replace Zirkzee by bringing in Thijs Dallinga from Toulouse. Last season in Ligue 1 he scored 14 goals and had a 0.51 xG per 90 minute scoring rate.
Things have been a big up and down for them in Serie A this season, as they've drawn three of their first four matches and are sitting near the relegation zone. However, they have a +0.8 xGD so far, so the underlying performances are still good and the positive regression will come. That creates a positive note heading into this match.
Shakhtar Donetsk Preview
Shakhtar have had a pretty rough start to the Ukrainian Premier League, as they’ve already lost two matches and are sitting in the middle of the table. Marino Pusic took over midway through the season last year and was actually in charge for their final four Champions League matches. He got a historic win over Barcelona at home and also got all three points against Antwerp, but in their two away matches against Barcelona and Porto they got hammered.
That has been a running theme for Shakhtar because they have not fared well away from home in the Champions League over the years. In the last three seasons, they have played 11 matches away from home and have a -12 expected goal differential. In fact, of those 12 matches, they have only won the expected goals battle once and it was against Antwerp last season.
This is essentially the same team that was in the Champions League last season, as Shakhtar didn't make any significant moves in the transfer market. In addition to that, under Pusic they only had a +0.80 xGD per 90 minutes in the Ukrainian Premier League, which is the 21st-most difficult league in Europe.
Bologna vs. Shakhtar Donetsk Champions League Prediction
This is a good buy low spot on Bologna. Losing two of your best players and the best manager in the clubs history without a doubt stings, but the core of the squad is still in tact. In addition to that, Vincenzo Italiano's tactics aren't a whole lot different than Thiago Motta's so I am expecting Bologna to be able to control this match and tilt the field on Shakhtar.
Shaktar have proven for a long time now that they aren't that great away in Europe. They've been displaced for a long time because of the ongoing war with Russia and adding long travel on top of that just seems to really have a big effect.
I have Bologna projected at -130, so I like the value on them at -112 in Shakhtar Donetsk vs Bologna.
Bologna vs. Shakhtar pick: Bologna ML (-112 via BetRivers)
How to Watch Champions League: Time, Channel, Streaming
| Location: | Renato Dall'Ara Stadium, Bologna, Italy |
| Date: | Wednesday, September 18 |
| Kickoff Time: | 12:45 p.m. ET |
| TV / Streaming: | CBS Sports / Paramount+, YouTube TV, Fubo |
Shakhtar vs. Bologna is scheduled for 12:45 p.m. ET live from Bologna, Italy on Wednesday. The Champions League match is live on CBS Sports platforms and streaming on Paramount+, YouTube TV, Fubo and other streaming platforms.
