New Juventus manager Thiago Motta faces former employers Bologna in one of the standout fixtures of Serie A Matchday 15. Saturday’s encounter at the Allianz Stadium has all the makings of a must-win clash for the home side amid their faltering Scudetto pursuit.
Conceding a heartbreaking stoppage-time equalizer condemned Juventus to a 1-1 away draw against Lecce, marking their sixth stalemate across their last eight outings in all competitions (W2). That inability to turn single-point affairs into victories has significantly derailed Bianconeri’s hopes of halting a four-year title duck in Serie A.
Despite finishing the last round as the only side in Italy’s top flight yet to lose a league match this season, Juventus trail table-topping Napoli by six points. Furthermore, Motta’s charges languish two points adrift of fourth-placed Fiorentina, highlighting the necessity to get into the win column more frequently.
Achieving that goal against Bologna is no small feat by any means. Vincenzo Italiano has proved a worthy successor of Motta following a bumpy start to life at Stadio Renato Dall’Ara. Last weekend’s thumping 3-0 home victory against Venezia lifted the Rossoblu to within five points of Juventus in the Serie A standings.
With a game in hand on most sides sitting above them in the table pre-round, Bologna remain firmly in contention for another top-five finish. Italiano’s charges head into proceedings as pre-match outsiders but are more than capable of causing an upset in Turin on the evidence of their recent meetings with Juventus.
Match Preview
Juventus
In dire need of three points, Juventus come into this fixture looking to put a decisive halt to a three-game winless run against Bologna. All three showdowns have ended all square, with the Bianconeri conceding the opening goal on each occasion, underscoring the magnitude of the task awaiting them this weekend.
Therefore, another stalemate is well on the cards. As aforementioned, sharing the spoils has been a running theme for Juventus this season, especially in Turin. Motta’s men have drawn half of their home games in all competitions (W2, D3, L1) but remain undefeated in their last 14 Serie A outings at the Allianz Stadium (W6, D8).
Remarkably, those results form part of Juve’s formidable 22-match unbeaten streak in league action, accounting for the longest current run without losing in Italy’s top flight. Extending that purple patch may also witness a quick-fire start. Indeed, three of Juventus’ last four home league matches have produced an opener inside the first 20 minutes.
Bologna
Italiano has recovered from a miserable start, re-establishing Bologna as one of the most resilient and tactically disciplined sides in Serie A this season. In addition to winning four of their last five league contests (L1), the Rossoblu humbled Monza 4-0 in midweek Coppa Italia action, consolidating their spirits ahead of this road trip.
Recent away results perhaps best illustrate Bologna’s form resurgence. Except for a 3-0 defeat at Lazio on their latest Serie A travel, Italiano’s lads have gone unbeaten in five of their last six away league matches (W3, D2), including a goal-glutted 3-2 victory at Roma.
That success marks one of the five instances across their five most recent top-flight travels to see Bologna score at least two goals. However, the visitors have made a habit of turning on their engines late, often leading to uneventful first-half performances. Indeed, ten of the 12 goals scored/conceded across their last four away games in Serie A have come beyond halftime.
Team News
Long-term absentees Arkadiusz Millik, Douglas Luiz, Gleison Bremer, Juan Cabal, and Nicolas Gonzalez have got company in the treatment room amid a full-blown injury crisis in Turin. Weston McKeenie is the latest Juventus ace to be sidelined by an injury. However, Dusan Vlahovic is back to full fitness and should spearhead the attack.
On the other hand, Bologna will make this journey without Michel Aebischer, Nicolo Cambiaghi, Charalampos Lykogiannis, and Oussama El Azzouzi. As if that’s not concerning enough, Riccardo Orsolini picked up a thigh problem during Tuesday’s clash against Monza and will have to skip this fixture.
Juventus vs Bologna Potential Starting Line-up
Juventus (4-2-3-1): Di Gregorio; Danilo, Kalulu, Gatti, Cambiaso; Locatelli, Thuram; Conceicao, Koopmeiners, Yildiz; Vlahovic.
Bologna (4-2-3-1): Skorupski; Posch, Beukema, Lucumi, Miranda; Freuler, Moro; Ndoye, Odgaard, Dominguez; Castro.
Juventus vs Bologna Prediction
This meeting has a low-scoring theme written all over it. Though both teams have thrived in such circumstances, the home comforts of the Allianz Stadium favor Juventus for the win. We back the hosts to live up to the billing.
Prediction: Juventus to Win
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