A handsomely-looking match-up between surprise package Bologna and record-time champions Juventus will drop the curtain on Sunday’s Serie A action. Both sides have amends to make following last weekend’s collapses, which promises plenty of excitement for the Renato Dall’Ara crowd.
Following a decent five-match unbeaten streak (W2, D3), Bologna finally ran out of steam last Friday as relegation-battling Hellas Verona stunned Thiago Motta’s team 2-1 at the Marc’Antonio Bentegodi. That defeat left their already faint hopes of securing an unlikely European qualification in tatters, widening the gap on seventh-placed Atalanta to eight points.
Even though they will most likely miss out on a top-seven finish, Bologna can still be proud of themselves. With two points separating them from ninth-placed Fiorentina, the Rossoblu could secure their best Serie A placing since finishing seventh in the 2001/02 season. But they cannot afford another slip-up here to keep that bid on the table.
Bologna may even relish the timing of this fixture, considering Juventus’ confidence could be at an all-time low following a heartbreaking 1-0 defeat at Inter in midweek Coppa Italia action. Another uneventful display from Massimiliano Allegri’s team resulted in a morale-crushing cup exit just days after Napoli conquered Turin.
Giacomo Raspadori netted a stoppage-time winner for the champions-elect, condemning Juventus to a third consecutive league defeat by a single-goal margin. Despite a rotten spell of form, the Bianconeri are back in the top-four frame after the acquittal of their infamous point deduction. Indeed, they start this round three points clear of fifth-placed Roma in third.
Match Preview
Bologna
Returning to winning ways will require Bologna to confront their humiliating 21-game winless streak in Serie A (D4, L17) against Juventus, which dates back to February 2011. Despite that barren H2H run, the Rossoblu can rely on a four-match unbeaten league run on home soil (W2, D2), accompanied by an impressive record of three clean sheets.
Therefore, they may have the resilience to hold their ground against a Juventus side they have lost to in their last six top-flight meetings at the Renato Dall’Ara. Yet whether they can trouble the scoresheet is open for debate, considering four of those six defeats saw Bologna draw a blank. Damningly, that’s been the case in two of their last three home league outings.
Player to Watch: Musa Barrow
Barrow could be Motta’s danger man on Sunday. He has been in devastating form lately, having contributed one goal and three assists in his last four appearances. His goal contributions have proved quite talismanic, with Bologna winning each of those matches.
Juventus
Juventus come into this matchday desperate to snap a three-game losing streak in Serie A. That’s already their worst such streak in the competition since 1962, highlighting the amount of pressure on Allegri’s shoulders to galvanize his underperforming troops. But back-to-back league scoring blanks for the first time since 2011 does look ominous.
However, Juventus’ struggles extend to their away performances, having already suffered six defeats on the road in the current league campaign. That is their joint-highest number of away losses in a single top-flight season since 2009/10. Curiously, none of their last 12 league outings have ended level (W7, L5), suggesting this encounter could go either way.
Player to Watch: Federico Chiesa
Chiesa has yet to return to his best since overcoming a long-term knee injury, but the upcoming trip to the Renato Dall’Ara could prove a turning point. The quicksilver forward has amassed six goals in eight top-flight appearances against Bologna, at least two more than he did against any other opposition in the top-flight.
Team News
Nicola Sansone and Roberto Soriano could be out of action for the next fortnight with injuries. This clash will come too soon for Marko Arnautovic, who’s edging closer to making a long-awaited return from a foot fracture. But Bologna boss Motta at least welcomed Joshua Zirkzee back to the fold in midweek.
Besides Moise Kean, who’s struggling with a muscular problem, Juventus may have to manage without star striker Dusan Vlahovic. The Serb has picked up an ankle problem and may not make the matchday squad. Allegri will still have an abundance of attacking options, with Chiesa and Paul Pogba back to full fitness.
Bologna vs Juventus Potential Lineups
Bologna (4-2-3-1): Lucasz Skorupski; Stefan Posch, Adama Soumaoro, Jhon Lucumi, Charalampos Lykogiannis; Jerdy Schouten, Nicolas Dominguez; Riccardo Orsolini, Lewis Ferguson, Giorgos Kyriakopoulos; Musa Barrow.
Juventus (3-5-1-1): Wojciech Szczesny; Federico Gatti, Gleison Bremer, Danilo; Federico Chiesa, Nicolo Fagioli, Manuel Locatelli, Adrien Rabiot, Filip Kostic; Angel Di Maria; Arkadiusz Milik.
Bologna vs Juventus Prediction
Given the visitors’ lackluster performances lately, with only one win in their previous seven matches, Bologna may have a chance to book at least a point on Sunday. Moreover, Juventus seems particularly susceptible to Motta’s proactive approach, which may further enhance the home side’s chances.
Prediction: Draw
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