Are you 24 or older?

Help us verify your age by providing an honest response. This site contains gambling advertising for 24+.

Age-restricted content

You’re not old enough to view betting content. You’ll be redirected to the homepage.

alt
LiveTickets
+18 | Commercial Content | T&C's Apply | Play Responsibly | Publishing Principles
Explore Betting on GOAL
InacioGetty Images
Emanuele Tramacere
Translated by

Samuele Inacio’s first Champions League start: in the starting XI against Bodo/Glimt

Italy
Borussia Dortmund
S. Inacio
Brazil
Bodoe/Glimt vs Borussia Dortmund
Bodoe/Glimt
Champions League

First start for the Italian-Brazilian talent

After spending the entire 90 minutes on the bench in the 2-2 draw against Werder Bremen, Samuele Inacio has now gone four consecutive games without playing since receiving a straight red card just three minutes into his Bundesliga debut against Hamburg.

Nico Kovac even appeared to punish him by sending him to play for the second team. Instead, that match proved the prelude to a promotion. Against Bodo/Glimt, in the second match of the Champions League league phase, Pià's son will start.

  • A goal with the second team to get back on track

    After Friday's match against Werder Bremen, Kovac gave the squad a day off, but sent Samuele Inacio and fellow Italian Luca Reggiani to play for the second team against Wattenscheid 09 in the Reiongalliga West. Inacio scored a goal in 45 minutes, building up his match fitness ahead of the Champions League match in Bodo.

  • First start

    Inacio's match in Norway against Bodo/Glimt will mark his first-ever Champions League appearance and his first official start. The Italian-Brazilian striker's promotion could put Borussia Dortmund back among the teams on maximum points and in contention for direct qualification for the round of 16.

  • Mancini’s words

    A promotion could benefit Inacio, Borussia Dortmund and the Italian national team. Born in 2008, he was disappointed not to make his debut in the first four Nations League matches of Roberto Mancini's new era, despite being called up. The head coach said that, for now, "Samuele is not ready yet" and that he needed to play to earn a place with Italy: "It is wrong to think Inacio can come in and play. We need to give him time: he is a young player who still needs to develop physically. But he has important qualities." Could a Champions League debut be his first step towards pulling on the Azzurri shirt?

    • ENJOYED THIS STORY?

    Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

    Follow GOAL on Google