Heading into the next round of the Champions League, Bologna and AS Monaco find themselves on opposite ends of the table. The Italian side are still searching for their first European goal, while the Monegasques are close to the tournament's leaders—bookmakers slightly favour the Ligue 1 side to win.
Bologna may still be struggling to adapt due to a spate of injuries, with players like Michel Aebischer, Denso Kasius, Nicolò Cambiaghi, Oussama El Azzouzi, and Martin Erlić spending time on the sidelines. Two weeks ago against Aston Villa (0:2), Bologna conceded 1.18 xGA and managed just four shots on target. They are likely to take more risks at home, eager to score their first goals in the tournament to contend for a place in the top 20.
AS Monaco’s return to Europe's premier club competition has been nearly flawless, barring a less-than-ideal trip to Dinamo Zagreb (2:2). However, victories over Barcelona (2:1) and Red Star Belgrade (5:1) highlighted how Adi Hütter has mastered counter-attacking strategies on the European stage—in the third round against the Serbian side, Monaco produced 3.33 xG and had 27 shots with 70% possession.
Last summer, a more star-studded Bologna side with Thiago Motta, Joshua Zirkzee, and Riccardo Calafiori fell to Monaco in a friendly (2:3), with Aleksandr Golovin scoring twice. Now, Monaco's advantage across the field has only increased, so backing them with a handicap is a sensible choice.
