Liverpoolvs.Bologna

Absent from UEFA's elite competition for 60 years, the Rossoblu will delight in visiting Anfield on Wednesday, having produced an unexpected fifth-placed finish in Serie A last season.

That was sufficient to take a seat at Europe's top table due to the Champions League's expansion, but several departures in the summer transfer market meant they had to rebuild for the 2024-25 campaign.

In addition to Juve-bound boss Thiago Motta - the architect of their rise - Riccardo Calafiori and Joshua Zirkzee both left for the Premier League, and it has since been far from plain sailing under new coach Vincenzo Italiano.

Here, Sports Mole takes a look at Bologna's strengths, weaknesses and top players ahead of their long-awaited trip to Liverpool.

BOLOGNA'S PLAYING STYLE

While Italiano is not averse to switching formations - and particularly personnel - his teams generally start with a 4-2-3-1 setup, which can sometimes become a 4-3-3.

Goalkeeper Lukasz Skorupski is a mainstay between the posts, while full-backs Stefan Posch and Charalampos Lykogiannis are usually selected on either flank; at the heart of Bologna's defence, Sam Beukema and Jhon Lucumi tend to feature instead of summer signing Nicolo Casale.

Likewise, a Swiss screen is set to face Liverpool's attack-minded central trio, as former Nottingham Forest man Remo Freuler joins compatriot Michel Aebischer in the engine room.

As Scottish star Lewis Ferguson - named Serie A's best midfielder last season - completes the long journey back from his ACL injury, Giovanni Fabbian, Kacper Urbanski and Nikola Moro also receive plenty of playing time.

Italiano has several wingers to choose from - such as Aston Villa loanee Samuel Iling-Junior - but another Switzerland international, Dan Ndoye, and club captain Riccardo Orsolini are most often selected to flank a lone frontman.

After his slow start to the season, rising star Santiago Castro has recently sprung into life and should beat Thijs Dallinga - effectively signed as Zirkzee's replacement - to selection up front.

BOLOGNA'S RESULTS AND SEASON SO FAR

It took until late September for Bologna to finally post their first win of the season, which came at the sixth attempt: a 2-1 Serie A victory over struggling Monza.

Urbanski headed home his first goal for the Emilian club before Castro got the winner, with the latter having also joined Iling-Junior on the scoresheet in a dramatic 2-2 draw at Como a few days earlier.

Allied to a gritty goalless stalemate against Shakhtar Donetsk in their Champions League opener, that run relieved some pressure on Italiano - twice a beaten Conference League finalist with Fiorentina - who was hired to lead the Rossoblu into Europe.

Previously, they had been beaten 3-0 by Antonio Conte's new-look Napoli, in addition to taking just two points from home games against Udinese and Empoli, looking far short of last season's high standards.

Bologna returned to Stadio Dall'Ara last weekend, when they posted a record-equalling sixth straight home draw, matching a sequence from way back in 1981.

Italiano hailed his side's "extraordinary spirit" after taking a point from fellow Champions League club Atalanta BC, though they came within minutes of hanging on for maximum points.

Castro found the target for a third successive league game, but Lucumi later saw red, and La Dea struck the woodwork twice against 10 men before producing a cruel 90th-minute equaliser.

As a result, Bologna sit 12th in the table ahead of perhaps their biggest European assignment to date.

BOLOGNA'S DANGER MEN

Recent form suggests that Castro can cause Liverpool's back four some problems, though the Argentinian striker did come off nursing a knock to his calf on Saturday night.

Having just celebrated his 20th birthday, he has taken on great responsibility by stepping into Zirkzee's shoes this season, while often keeping Dallinga - a proven scorer in Ligue 1 with Toulouse - consigned to the bench.

A bustling centre-forward renowned for his tenacity, Castro now wears the number nine shirt and is already the focal point of his team's attack.

Bologna's last six Serie A goals have been scored by players aged 21 or under, and young trio Urbanski, Iling-Junior and Fabbian will also pose a threat if offered the chance to shine at Anfield.

Summer signing Nicolo Cambiaghi suffered a serious knee injury in August, so he will not be available this week or until well into next year; nonetheless, Ndoye and Danish winger Jens Odgaard are among those who have capably covered his absence.

The visitors' skipper, Orsolini, scored from the penalty spot on Serie A's opening matchday and has therefore found the net in seven different seasons for his current club.

The Italy international usually starts on the right and cuts inside to shoot with his stronger left foot, so either Andy Robertson or Kostas Tsimikas could have their hands full on Wednesday evening.