Artem Dovbyk, Bologna's new centre-forward, failed to register a single shot on target in a 1-0 friendly defeat against Brighton on August 16, a performance that raised immediate questions about his integration into Domenico Tedesco's system before a competitive ball has been kicked.
The result itself — decided by a Hinshelwood goal in the 58th minute — is not what will concern Tedesco most. Pre-season friendlies are rehearsals, not verdicts. What matters is that Dovbyk, a striker whose entire value proposition rests on his presence in the penalty area, was effectively absent from the match as an attacking threat. A forward who never tests the goalkeeper offers nothing to build on, regardless of the opposition.
The timing sharpens the concern. Dovbyk is 29, an age at which a striker's profile is largely fixed. His season numbers — three goals and one assist across 14 Serie A appearances, with an average rating of 6.50 — suggest a player operating well below the output that would justify a starting role at a club with Bologna's ambitions. An AI overall score of 66 out of 100, with a potential ceiling of 58, frames him as a squad-level contributor rather than a guaranteed starter, and a performance like the one against Brighton does nothing to challenge that reading.
Bologna have yet to play a competitive match in 2026-27, sitting second in the early standings on zero points from zero games. Tedesco has time to find solutions, and a single pre-season outing proves nothing in isolation. But a striker signed to lead the line cannot afford to be a ghost in the games designed to build his confidence and sharpness.
Dovbyk needs a goal — any goal — before the season opens, or Tedesco will face an awkward selection question from the first matchday.