Thiago Motta prepares for a reunion with his former side as Juventus prepare to take on Bologna, with the pressure to keep up with the top five.
Juventus are at risk of falling behind in the title race as the five teams above them in the standings are clearing room as they get set to host Bologna at the Allianz Stadium. The Bianconeri suffered another setback with yet another draw that saw them drop more points in the title race.
Their 1-1 draw away to US Lecce was their third in a row in all competitions and fourth in five games, which could come to bite back later in the season. It’s a similar pattern that ensued earlier in the season, although Juventus have the firepower to bounce back and make their presence felt in the race.
Napoli have continued to churn out narrow results in their favour in consecutive matchdays, as Antonio Conte’s side maintained their single point lead at the top. They are also six clear of Juventus, and another bad result for Motta’s men could spell problems in their quest to catch the leaders later on.
Meanwhile, Motta will have to prove a point against former side Bologna, as they visit Turin ahead of Saturday. Bologna have performed in a different way than many had expected, but they are not too much off the pace, as their current position in the 8th spot suggests.
Bologna have a different season because they are not used to Champions League football, and despite that, they have fared decently well. They did have a tough start under Vincenzo Italiano, but having managed to win four of their last five, they are only five points off their hosts ahead of this big meeting on Saturday.
Hence, there is every chance for Bologna to break into top European spots, as a win in Turin could take them to within two points of Juventus. So, Italiano will target a huge scalp on Saturday, as Bologna could use their current form as a precursor to make a big statement.
Team News & Tactics
Juventus
Thiago Motta still has a long injury list to contend with, Gleison Bremer and Arkadiusz Milik aside; they have winger Nico Gonzalez missing, while full-back pair Juan Cabal and Nicolo Savona are also absent with injury issues.
Midfield pair Weston McKennie and Douglas Luiz are also out of the contest, meaning Motta’s options in many kep positions are thin heading into this weekend’s game. In those full-back positions, Danilo and Andrea Cambiaso are expected to start.
Motta will continue to pick Khephren Thuram and Manuel Locatelli in his midfield. Francisco Conceicao is in line to start on the right wing, with Kenan Yildiz on the other flank. Teun Koopmeiners will complete the attacking setup behind striker Dusan Vlahovic, who will lead the line for Juventus.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Di Gregorio; Danilo, Gatti, Kalulu, Cambiaso; Thuram, Locatell; Conceicao, Koopmeiners, Yildiz; Vlahovic
Bologna
Vincenzo Italiano will likely revert to his strongest lineup after making several chances for the midweek cup clash. One player who might continue to feature with regularity is attacker Santiago Castro. The forward has recorded five goals and as many assists this season in all competitions and will be expected to lead the line for Bologna against Juventus.
As for the other selections, Lukasz Skorupski, Dan Ndoye, and Sam Beukema should all return to the lineup, although Bologna still needs their share of problems with injuries. Nicolo Cambiaghi and Oussama El Azzouzi are out of the contest, with Michel Sebischer also absent.
There are further doubts about Thijs Dallinga and Riccardo Orsolini, with the latter suffering from a thigh problem in midweek, and remains considerable doubt for this one on Saturday. Jens Odgaard is expected to feature in the attacking midfield role, with Benjamin Dominguez and Ndoye expected on either wing, as Castro leads the line. In midfield, Remo Freuler and Nikola Moro will feature, while Jhon Lucumi and Beukema will be in the central defensive positions.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Skorupski; Posch, Beukema, Lucumi, Miranda; Freuler, Moro; Dominguez, Odgaard, Ndoye; Castro
Key Stats
- Juventus are undefeated in their last 26 matches against Bologna in all competitions.
- Juventus are undefeated in their last 22 matches in Serie A.
- Juventus have drawn their last three games in all competitions.
- Bologna have won three of their last four matches in Serie A.
- Bologna are 5 points behind Juventus in the current Serie A standings.
Player to Watch
Dusan Vlahovic
Juventus are dealing with another injury crisis, as the list has grown long, and Thiago Motta has yet to find a solution to creating enough chances in games. Some of their recent draws are proof of their inefficiency in the final third, as Vlahovic’s return will be a welcome boost for the Bianconeri.
With the pressure mounting on Motta to return to winning ways and get back in the title race, the presence of Vlahovic will be key to determining how they go about in that aspect. The Serb is their best bet to get goals in that attacking setup, as he would be fired up ahead of the weekend.
Prediction
Juventus 1-0 Bologna
Bologna are in a good run of form and could take on Juventus in a challenging way on Saturday. Vincenzo Italiano will want a big fight in Turin from his players, as this is a chance to close the gap on the Bianconeri and return to their objective of finishing in a big European place.
Juventus, on the other hand, may not have had results go their way recently, but they are still a strong side to deal with. The return of Dusan Vlahovic could be key to determining which way this result swings, as the Bianconeri are tipped to take three points with a slender scoreline.