SPARTA Prague marked their return to the Champions League after almost 19 years with a thumping win over Austrian side Red Bull Salzburg.
The Czech champions’ last appearance in the competition proper came in December 2005 when they finished last in a group containing Arsenal, Ajax and FC Thun.
After such a long wait Sparta needed just 107 seconds to take the lead at home to Salzburg through Kaan Kairinen’s effort on the rebound.
Victor Olatunji doubled Sparta’s advantage shortly before half-time with a fine volleyed effort.
Qazim Laci rounded off the win in the 58th minute with a simple strike after wrong-footing two defenders and the Salzburg goalkeeper with a dummied shot.
Sparta’s win was their first in the Champions League proper since beating Lazio 1-0 in December 2003.
Salzburg had to advance through two qualifying rounds in August — because its 10-year title run in Austria was ended by Sturm Graz — but Sparta came through three, and already played six games in the competition.
Bologna was playing in just its third-ever game in the competition, and first since a preliminary round exit 60 years ago when the European Cup was open only to national champions.
Facing a penalty kick for Shakhtar in just the fourth minute, goalkeeper Lukasz Skorupski dived to his right to hold playmaker Heorhiy Sudakov’s shot.
Shakhtar goalkeeper Dmytro Riznyk repeatedly denied Bologna with saves from the home team’s 18 attempts on goal.
Bologna still plays in the Stadio Renato Dall’Ara that has been its home for almost 100 years. It staged games at the 1934 World Cup, and again in the 1990 tournament.
