Stadio Renato Dall’Ara varieties the backdrop for a closely anticipated Serie A top-four six-pointer between Bologna and Juventus. Regardless of sitting narrowly outdoors the highest 4, this fixture has all of the makings of a Champions League qualification decider for the house staff.
Vincenzo Italiano’s prices path their extra esteemed hosts by a single level after a scoreless draw at mid-table Udinese on Monday noticed them lose grip on the coveted fourth spot. Nevertheless, with 4 video games nonetheless to go, Bologna stay firmly in rivalry for a second consecutive Champions League development.
Monday’s gut-wrenching end result on the Bluenergy Stadium was hardly enough to dampen a feel-good think about Emilia-Romagna. Confidence continues to be excessive across the Bologna camp after the membership secured their first look within the Coppa Italia last in over 50 years. If there’s a facet able to killing Bologna’s temper, it’s Juventus.
The Turin giants haven’t misplaced an away match towards the Rossoblu in any competitors since 1998 (W17, D7), although their final go to to Renato Dall’Ara produced a goal-glutted 3-3 draw. One other stalemate would hardly profit both facet, but that’s lately been a standard theme on this fixture.
Every of the final 4 conferences between Bologna and Juventus ended stage, together with a 2-2 attract December’s reverse conflict on the Allianz Stadium. Igor Tudor’s facet will probably be out to buck this pattern after defying a numerical drawback and 21% second-half possession to beat rock-bottom Monza 2-0 final weekend.
Match Preview
Bologna
Regardless of their patchy kind throughout their final 5 outings (W2, D2, L1), Bologna ought to take the sector in a buoyant temper. Certainly, they’ve turned Renato Dall’Ara right into a fortress beneath Italiano, shedding simply as soon as in Serie A house motion all season (W10, D6).
Moreover, they’ve received 9 of their final ten aggressive residence video games (D1). That ought to equip Bologna with confidence as they search their first victory towards Juventus in Emilia-Romagna this century. Taking the lead could be useful however not decisive.
Certainly, they’ve drawn their final 4 matches towards the Bianconeri regardless of main at halftime on every event. Nevertheless, they need to at the very least maintain up their finish of the discount and discover the web, contemplating they’ve scored of their final 16 residence matches throughout all competitions.
Conceding first shouldn’t be a difficulty, with Bologna going unbeaten in all 5 residence league fixtures when falling behind this season (W3, D2).
Juventus
The abovementioned triumph towards Monza noticed Juventus bounce again from a dismal 1-0 defeat at bottom-half Parma on their final Serie A highway journey. That loss stays the one blemish on Tudor’s in any other case near-flawless managerial file since changing Thiago Motta within the dugout (W3, D1).
Nevertheless, Juventus should do one thing they’ve failed to attain all season to stay within the win column. Certainly, they’ve gone winless in all seven away league matches towards groups beginning this spherical within the higher half of the desk (D5, L2), highlighting the magnitude of the duty forward.
As if that’s not troubling sufficient, Juventus have solely received one highway sport in Serie A since mid-February (D1, L3), retaining only one clear sheet in that torrid sequence. That slender 1-0 triumph at perennial strugglers Cagliari stays Juve’s solely shutout in ten away league fixtures for the reason that begin of December.
Crew Information
Bologna are nonetheless with out Swedish fullback Emil Holm and star winger Dan Ndoye. The Swiss ahead’s absence will intensify the stress on standout performer Riccardo Orsolini, who bagged a surprising overhead kick to assist the Rossoblu beat Inter of their final residence league sport. In the meantime, Italiano can recall Nicolo Casale.
An ominous-looking defensive disaster at Juventus goes from unhealthy to worse. Federico Gatti and Lloyd Kelly have joined long-term absentees Juan Cabal and Gleison Bremer on the sidelines. Issues hold piling up in assault too. Dusan Vlahovic and Arkadiusz Milik are unavailable for choice. Kenan Yildiz can be out with suspension.
Bologna vs Juventus Potential Beginning Line-ups
Bologna (4-2-3-1): Skorupski; Calabria, Beukema, Lucumi, Miranda; Freuler, Ferguson; Orsolini, Odgaard, Cambiaghi; Dallinga.
Juventus (3-4-2-1): Di Gregorio; Kalulu, Veiga, Savona; Weah, Locatelli, Thuram, Cambiaso; McKennie, Gonzalez; Kolo Muani.
Bologna vs Juventus Prediction
With solely six league victories on the highway this season, Juventus have struggled away from residence, and an injury-depleted squad might be weak to defeat at Dall’Ara. Additionally, Bologna ought to brim with confidence, with little to lose and every part to achieve in a fiercely contested battle for a top-four end.
Prediction: Bologna to Win
Comply with us on Google News for extra updates on Serie A and Italian soccer |