Benfica 0-0 Bologna: Italian´s side on brink of Champions League exit after Lisbon stalemate

Bologna are on the brink of elimination from the Champions League following a goalless draw with Benfica.

The stalemate at Estadio da Luz left the Serie A side on two points after their opening six matches, and six points adrift of the play-off places.

Benfica thought they had taken the lead after just two minutes, but Vangelis Pavlidis saw his effort ruled out for offside following a VAR review.

Bruno Lage’s side continued to carry the greater attacking threat, registering 15 shots to their opponents’ six.

Skorupski made a superb reflex save to deny Pavlidis after the break, and the hosts’ profligacy later on meant they had to settle for a share of the spoils.

Points are shared in Lisbon#UCL #WeAreOne pic.twitter.com/WO3b51wgKj

— Bologna FC 1909 (@BolognaFC1909en) December 11, 2024

Data Debrief: Bologna draw another blank

There were 10 yellow cards brandished during the game, the most in any match in this season’s Champions League.

In drawing another blank, Bologna are the third time in Champions League history to score as few as one goal across their first six games in the competition, after Galatasaray in 1993-94 and Levski Sofia in 2006-07 (both also one).

Meanwhile, Benfica recorded a 0-0 draw on home soil in the Champions League for the first time since December 2014, and have now failed to score in four of their last seven games in the competition at Estadio da Luz.