Bologna are set to make its return to European competition after a 22-year absence, with the club preparing to submit its Champions League squad list to UEFA by midnight tonight. This marks a significant milestone for the Rossoblu, who last appeared in Europe during the 2001 Intertoto Cup.
Squad Composition Challenges
The club faces some challenges in balancing its squad for UEFA competition, as the requirements differ from Serie A regulations. Bologna must include four players developed in their own youth system, which will likely be:
– Ravaglia (second-choice goalkeeper)
– Urbanski
– Bagnolini (third-choice goalkeeper)
– Corazza (full-back)
Additionally, four spots are reserved for Italian players or those trained in Italy. These slots are expected to be filled by:
– Orsolini
– Pobega
– Fabbian
– Erlic (Croatian, but qualifies as Italian-trained)
Potential Exclusions
With 17 remaining spots for other players, Bologna must make some difficult decisions. At least five players will need to be left out of the Champions League squad. Those likely to be excluded include:
– Cambiaghi (due to serious injury)
– Ilic (young Serbian player already out of favor)
– Dominguez (recent arrival from Gimnasia)
– De Silvestri (previously informed about potential exclusion)
The final two exclusions are less certain, but potential candidates include:
– Jesper Karlsson (following a poor performance against Empoli)
– Scott Ferguson (recovering from a cruciate ligament injury until late October)
– El Azzouzi (dealing with back problems and uncertain recovery time)
