Champions League: Monaco heads to Bologna to seek respite from domestic woes and chase qualification
Monaco's European journey continues in Italy
Languishing in the bottom half of Ligue 1, Monaco will seek solace in the Champions League on Wednesday. The principality club travels to Bologna for the first leg of their last-16 tie, hoping to replicate their impressive group-stage performances.
Monaco finished second in their group behind Tottenham Hotspur, earning a place in the knockout stages for the first time since 2017. They will face an in-form Bologna side that is unbeaten in their last five Serie A matches, winning three.
Monaco's domestic struggles
Monaco's domestic campaign has been a tale of inconsistency. After an encouraging start, they have slipped down the table, winning just one of their last six league games. Their struggles have been compounded by injuries to key players, including Wissam Ben Yedder and Aleksandr Golovin.
Despite their domestic woes, Monaco has shown resilience in the Champions League. They have won three of their last four European matches, including a memorable 3-0 victory at Real Madrid in the group stage.
Bologna's impressive form
Bologna has been one of the surprise packages of Serie A this season. Under the guidance of coach Thiago Motta, they have risen to seventh place in the table, just six points behind the Champions League places.
Bologna's success has been built on a solid defense and a potent attack led by Marko Arnautovic. The Austrian striker has scored 14 goals in all competitions this season, including three in the Champions League.
Key battles to watch
The match between Monaco and Bologna will be decided by several key battles. Wissam Ben Yedder will be hoping to overcome his injury and lead Monaco's attack. The French striker is Monaco's leading scorer this season with 19 goals in all competitions.
Ben Yedder will be supported by Aleksandr Golovin, who is expected to return from injury. The Russian playmaker is a creative force and will be key to Monaco's chances of creating goals.
Bologna's defense will be marshaled by Marko Arnautovic. The Austrian striker is a physical presence and will be a handful for Monaco's center-backs. Arnautovic will also be a threat from set pieces.
Another key battle will be in midfield. Monaco's Aurélien Tchouaméni and Bologna's Nicolas Dominguez will be vying for control of the center of the park. Tchouaméni is a rising star and has been linked with moves to Real Madrid and Liverpool. Dominguez is a tenacious tackler and will be important in breaking up Monaco's attacks.
Prediction
Monaco and Bologna are evenly matched on paper. Monaco has the quality to win the tie, but they will need to overcome their domestic struggles. Bologna is in good form and will be confident of causing an upset. The first leg is likely to be a close affair, with a draw a possible outcome.
