After a six-decade wait, Bologna is back at Europe's elite level.

They will kick off their campaign at Stadio Dall'Ara on Wednesday.

Despite being winless this season, the Serie A side will face experienced Shakhtar Donetsk in their first league-phase fixture.

The Ukrainian champions are eager to improve their sub-par record in Italy.

This marks Bologna's second season in UEFA's top club competition.

They last played at this level during their mid-60s heyday, losing to Anderlecht in the 1964 preliminary round via a coin toss.

Much has changed since then, and this week, Bologna will become one of five clubs to make their Champions League debut in the competition's new format.

Bologna will be the 11th Italian team to appear in the tournament proper.

The seven-time Scudetto winners set a new club record of 68 points last season, recording their highest league finish since 1967.

After inspiring an unheralded side to fifth place in the final standings, their coach accepted an offer from Juventus.

Consequently, former Fiorentina boss Vincenzo Italiano, who was beaten in both of the last two Europa Conference League finals, was brought in.

However, Italiano is still awaiting his first competitive win.

He has overseen disappointing home draws on either side of a 3-0 defeat to Napoli.

Last weekend, Bologna had to come from two goals down to rescue a point against promoted Como.

A squad stripped of star men, both of whom departed for England in the summer, needed goals from substitutes to save the day.

They currently occupy 17th place in Serie A.

The Rossoblu will now take their first step into any European competition since losing an Intertoto Cup clash against Fulham in 2002.

They will defend a proud record at Stadio Dall'Ara, where they have never lost in Europe, winning 15 of 23 matches to date.

While Bologna are Champions League rookies, Shakhtar Donetsk reached the quarter-finals as recently as 2011 and have featured in all but one of the last 15 years.

Shakhtar only missed out on the knockout rounds last term due to a crucial defeat at Porto on the final matchday.

However, they have now been eliminated in the group stage for six seasons in a row.

After dropping down into the Europa League, the Miners were beaten by Marseille in the knockout-round playoffs, though that did not taint an otherwise superb 2023-24 campaign.

Under their Croatian head coach, Shakhtar claimed a 15th Ukrainian Premier League title by finishing two points clear of old foes Dynamo Kyiv.

They then went on to lift the cup and complete their ninth domestic double.

This term, though, they have lost twice already, having suffered only three defeats throughout all of last season.

A hat-trick helped them to a 5-2 home win over Karpaty Lviv at the weekend, but they have only won two of their first five matches.

Already estranged from their home city by war, Shakhtar must now try to pick up points on the road.

They have won just twice in their last 11 Champions League away matches before heading to Italy, where they have lost 10 of 15 previous meetings with Serie A sides.

Bologna's injury woes have started to clear just ahead of their European comeback.

Defensive duo and Swiss winger joined the bench in Como.

However, two players suffered serious knee injuries last month and are out for the long term.

Scottish star is still working his way back to fitness from an ACL injury.

The hosts' captain scored from the spot on Serie A's opening matchday and has therefore found the net in seven different seasons for the club.

The Italy international should start in support of either Santiago Castro or up front.

Meanwhile, Shakhtar Donetsk striker registered a tally of four goals from six games in last season's Champions League and is now his club's joint-top scorer this term with three goals.

Recently on the scoresheet for Ukraine in the UEFA Nations League, he created the most chances (10) and completed the most passes (229) of any Shakhtar player during last year's group stage.

He may now be joined in midfield by one of the visitors' customary Brazilian contingent, who returned from a hamstring injury at the weekend following a month-long layoff.

While Shakhtar's experience should count in their favor, the Ukrainian champions do not tend to travel well and could come unstuck in Emilia-Romagna.

Bologna's early displays under Vincenzo Italiano have not been convincing, but they can grit their teeth and gain a point before heading to Anfield next month.