Bologna 0-0 Shakhtar Donetsk: Skorupski heroics preserve point for Rossoblu

Bologna were held to a 0-0 draw by visitors Shakhtar Donetsk, who saw an early penalty saved, in a lacklustre Champions League opener on Wednesday.

The first half lacked excitement, but Bologna’s fans relished the milestone occasion as they returned to Europe’s elite club competition for the first time in almost 60 years.

The game was four minutes old, though, when the visitors had a chance to take the lead, Stefan Posch fouling Eguinaldo to concede an early penalty.

However, Bologna goalkeeper Lukasz Skorupski denied Heorhiy Sudakov from 12 yards, and that was the most dramatic moment of an otherwise tepid affair.

Despite an energetic start to the second half and a couple of impressive saves from Shakhtar keeper Dmytro Riznyk, neither team could make a breakthrough, taking a point apiece from their first outing in the competition’s new-look league phase.

34 – Bologna are unbeaten in 34 home European competition games (inc. qualifiers), the most home games played without losing by a team in European football history (Ipswich Town second most, 31 games). Impassable.#UCL

— OptaPaolo (@OptaPaolo) September 18, 2024

Data Debrief: Skorupski the hero

In a game low on attacking quality, Bologna goalkeeper Skorupski made headlines with his early penalty save, becoming the sixth Polish shot-stopper to keep out a penalty in the Champions League.

It also means that three of the last four penalties taken in the first four minutes of a Champions League game have not found the net.