LISBON (PORTUGAL) (ITALPRESS) – Second point of Bologna’s Champions adventure. Italiano’s team does not go beyond 0-0 against Benfica, but playing a match that lived up to the prestige and difficulty of the evening. A draw that leaves slim – but not nil – hopes for the Emilian team to get back into the top twenty-four of the maxi ranking, while the Lusitanians consolidate their place in the qualification zone. Not even two minutes and Benfica would find the lead, on Di Maria’s assist for Pavlidis’ winning touch underneath, but all in an offside position later signaled by Var. Immediate shudder for Bologna on a bad ball outlet, from which, however, Italiano’s team came out with their heads held high, occupying the field well and trying to bother the Portuguese’s first approach. Fairly balanced match, with Benfica living on flashes and Bologna trying to attack on the counter-attack. The best chance of the first half, however, will be taken by Lage’s lineup, on the play of Carreras who, having freed himself of Beukema with a tunnel, sprints into the area and serves with a cross Di Maria, who with his left-footed volley engages Skorupski not a little. Bologna that seemed to withstand the pressure of an important stadium and an experienced opponent, putting it in trouble at the start of the second half, with Dallinga who, from a defiladed position, troubled Trubin who, however, covered his post well. But the pace seemed to pick up in the second half, with Benfica making itself dangerous in the 65′, when a ball put into the box was misread by Skorupski, who first missed the exit but then managed to recover on Pavlidis’ near-shot tap in. It remained at 0-0, with Bologna almost in reserve and Benfica continuing to attack, until the final forcing, which ended with the Portuguese pushing on but with no scoring at the appeal. – Photo Ipa Agency -(ITALPRESS).
