Bologna’s dream has finally come true. They ensured they returned to the elite stage of the Champions League after waiting for 59 years.
Bologna won 2-0 at home to Napoli in Week 36 of Serie A 2023/2024, Saturday (11/5/2024). Thiago Motta’s team won thanks to goals from Dan Ndoye in the 9th minute and Stefan Posch in the 12th minute.
Helped by Atalanta’s 2-1 victory over AS Roma, Monday (13/5/2024), Bologna celebrated. Bologna is certain to finish in the Champions League zone with two matches remaining.
The last time Bologna appeared in the European Cup/Champions League was in the 1964/1965 season.
In the 1963/1964 season, Bologna won the Serie A Scudetto. This was Bologna’s 7th Scudetto, and the last to date.
Serie A champions, Bologna had the right to appear in the 1964/1965 European Cup. However, Bologna’s progress at that time was very short.
Against Anderlecht (Belgium) in the preliminary round, Bologna was immediately eliminated.
It was the first and last time Bologna took part in the European Cup/Champions League. After waiting a very long time, around 59 years, Bologna’s dream of competing again in elite European competition has finally come true.
This dream came true after Thiago Motta’s cold hands succeeded in making them appear impressive in Serie A 2023/2024.
Bologna has appeared impressive in Serie A this season. Until week 36, Bologna had won 18 times, drawn 13 times and only lost five times.
Bologna in Serie A 2023/2024 so far
Matches: 36
Wins: 18
Series: 13
Losses: 5
Goals: 51
Conceded: 27
In terms of goal productivity, Bologna is still behind Atalanta, Roma and Napoli. However, Bologna has a solid defense.
Bologna has only conceded 27 goals. Their conceded rate is the second best. They only lost to Inter Milan (19 goals).
Joshua Zirkzee and Riccardo Orsolini are Bologna’s two top scorers in Serie A this season. Zirkzee has contributed 11 goals, while Orsolini has 10 goals.
Bologna’s goal scorers in Serie A 2023/2024 so far:
11 goals: Joshua Zirkzee
10 goals: Riccardo Orsolini
6 goals: Lewis Ferguson
5 goals: Giovanni Fabbian
4 goals: Alexis Saelemaekers
2 goals: Charalampos Lykogiannis, Jens Odgaard, Lorenzo De Silvestri, Oussama El Azzouzi
1 goal: Dan Ndoye, Nikola Moro, Remo Freuler, Sam Beukema, Stefan Posch.
Apart from the goal scorers, there are also creative players whose roles are no less important. These include Riccardo Calafiori who contributed five assists, and Alexis Saelemaekers with two assists.
Bologna has two matches left in Serie A 2023/2024. They will host Juventus, then close the season with a visit to Genoa headquarters.
Bologna will definitely qualify for the Champions League next season. However, Thiago Motta’s boys certainly still want to achieve the best results in their final two matches.
