Two teams fighting for a top-four finish will square off when Bologna welcome Juventus on Sunday night.
A decisive clash in the race for Serie A’s top four unfolds at Stadio Renato Dall’Ara on Sunday evening, as Bologna welcome Juventus in a fixture with enormous ramifications. Separated by just one point, the two sides are embroiled in a high-stakes battle not only for European qualification but also for momentum as the season nears its end.
Victory for the hosts would see them leapfrog their more illustrious opponents with just three games remaining, potentially reshaping the complexion of the top-four battle. In a congested table where five clubs are jostling for what might ultimately be a single remaining Champions League berth, the pressure has reached a boiling point.
Juventus, for all their pedigree and resources, find themselves far from safe. Despite easing past Monza last weekend with goals from Nico Gonzalez and Randal Kolo Muani, their 2-0 win came with a cost. Kenan Yildiz’s red card for violent conduct leaves a hole in their attacking options. That said, the Bianconeri showed resilience to hold firm despite being reduced to 10 men for nearly an hour, securing their third win in five matches under interim boss Igor Tudor.
Tudor’s reign has steadied the ship somewhat following a rocky spell, but Juventus’ recent form on the road continues to be a concern. They have picked up just one point from their last three away games, a worrying sign ahead of a trip to one of the league’s most tactically astute sides. The stakes could not be higher — failure to qualify for the Champions League would not only be a sporting failure, but a financial catastrophe for the club, potentially sparking an exodus of key players and instability in the boardroom.
For Bologna, this season has been a revelation. Following their fifth-place finish last term, which unexpectedly granted them a Champions League spot due to Italy’s strong UEFA coefficient, the Rossoblu are now proving that was no fluke. Under Vincenzo Italiano, they have played some of the most balanced football in the league, combining tenacity in defence with intelligent, progressive buildup.
However, they will enter Sunday’s encounter on the back of a frustrating 0-0 draw with Udinese, a game in which both sides struck the post but neither found the net. It was a missed opportunity to vault into fourth, but Bologna still carry momentum, having recently stunned Inter with a stoppage-time winner and booked a place in the Coppa Italia final.
The psychological barrier may prove more difficult to overcome than the tactical one. Bologna haven’t beaten Juventus in Serie A since 1998 on home soil, with a 25-match winless streak (D8 L17) weighing on their shoulders. Despite that, their last four head-to-heads have ended in draws, including a 2-2 thriller in December, where they came agonisingly close to ending their long wait for a win.
With a daunting run-in featuring Fiorentina, AC Milan, and a cup final, Bologna will be desperate to make a statement here. Juventus, too, cannot afford a slip, as Roma, Lazio, and Fiorentina lurk closely behind. Sunday’s fixture could be the moment that defines both teams’ seasons. The Hard Tackle takes a look at how both sides could line up and what tactics they might employ on the day.
Team News & Tactics
Bologna FC 1909
Bologna approach this critical top-four clash with several fitness concerns and one significant absentee. Right-back Emil Holm remains sidelined due to injury, ruling him out of Sunday’s encounter. However, there is optimism surrounding the potential return of both Nicolo Casale and Dan Ndoye, who are nearing full fitness. Their availability would provide a timely boost for head coach Vincenzo Italiano, who is himself set to return to the touchline after serving a one-match ban.
The tactical dilemma facing Italiano revolves around his striking options, with Thijs Dallinga and Santiago Castro vying for the lone centre-forward role. Meanwhile, Riccardo Orsolini, once a Juventus academy product, is expected to start on the right wing. Orsolini has a knack for performing against his former club, scoring twice in his last three home matches against the Bianconeri. A goal or assist on Sunday would mark a personal milestone, as it would take him to 16 goal involvements in Serie A this season, his highest ever.
Bologna are expected to line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Lukasz Skorupski once again starting in goal. The back four will likely feature Davide Calabria at right-back, Sam Beukema and Jhon Lucumi as the central defenders, and Juan Miranda taking his place at left-back.
In midfield, the double pivot will consist of Remo Freuler and Michel Aebischer, offering a blend of control, tactical discipline, and transitional play. Ahead of them, Riccardo Orsolini will operate on the right of the attacking trio, with Jens Odgaard central as the playmaker and Nicolo Cambiaghi deployed on the left wing.
Leading the line is expected to be Thijs Dallinga, whose movement and finishing ability will be key to unlocking a Juventus defence that has been stubborn in recent weeks.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Skorupski; Calabria, Beukema, Lucumi, Miranda; Freuler, Aebischer; Orsolini, Odgaard, Cambiaghi; Dallinga
Juventus
Juventus head into Sunday’s pivotal clash against Bologna grappling with a host of absentees, especially in defence. The most high-profile suspension is that of Kenan Yildiz, who begins a two-match ban following his red card for violent conduct in last weekend’s win over Monza. In response, Francisco Conceicao, now fully fit, is expected to be drafted into the starting XI to help fill the creative void.
In defence, the Bianconeri find themselves in the midst of an injury crisis. Centre-backs Lloyd Kelly and Federico Gatti are both sidelined due to recent knocks, joining long-term absentee Gleison Bremer, who remains out after suffering an ACL injury. With options running thin, head coach Igor Tudor is expected to turn to the adaptable Andrea Cambiaso, who may be featuring in one of his final games for the club, or possibly even Manuel Locatelli, to slot into a makeshift back three alongside Pierre Kalulu and Renato Veiga.
Up front, Juventus received a timely boost with the return of Dusan Vlahovic to training. While not expected to start, the Serbian forward could be named among the substitutes. Meanwhile, midfielder Teun Koopmeiners is still recovering from an Achilles tendon issue and is unlikely to be involved in the matchday squad.
Despite their limitations, Juventus are expected to maintain their 3-4-2-1 structure. Michele Di Gregorio will retain his place in goal. The back three is anticipated to include Pierre Kalulu on the right, Renato Veiga centrally, and Andrea Cambiaso on the left in a makeshift role.
In midfield, Weston McKennie will operate as the right wing-back, with Timothy Weah stationed on the opposite flank. Central midfield will feature Manuel Locatelli, assuming a slightly deeper role, partnered by Khéphren Thuram, who offers physicality and box-to-box presence.
In the attacking midfield line, Nico Gonzalez is expected to start alongside Francisco Conceição, both tasked with supporting the lone striker Randal Kolo Muani, who has been in fine form of late, and will be relied upon to lead the line amid injury concerns elsewhere.
Probable Lineup (3-4-2-1): Di Gregorio; Kalulu, Veiga, Cambiaso; McKennie, Locatelli, Thuram, Weah; Gonzalez, Conceicao; Kolo Muani
Key Stats
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Juventus are unbeaten in their last 25 Serie A matches against Bologna (W17 D8), their longest active streak without defeat against any opponent in the competition. Bologna’s last victory came over 13 years ago, in February 2011.
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The last four Serie A meetings between Bologna and Juventus have all ended in draws, with both teams scoring in each. A fifth straight draw would mark the first time since 1978-1980 that the two sides have drawn five top-flight matches in a row.
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Bologna’s last Serie A home win over Juventus came in November 1998. Since then, they have drawn seven and lost 14 of their 21 home encounters. Notably, Juventus have scored in all of their last eight visits to the Stadio Dall’Ara.
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A win on Sunday would see Bologna leapfrog Juventus in the standings. In the 20-team Serie A era, Bologna have never been above Juventus with three games to go, underlining the significance of this potential result.
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Despite their recent win over Monza, Juventus have picked up only one point from their last three league away matches (D1 L2). They are at risk of going four consecutive away games without a win for the first time since the end of last season, when they endured an eight-game winless streak on the road.
Player to Watch
Randal Kolo Muani
With Kenan Yildiz suspended and Dusan Vlahovic only recently returning from injury, the responsibility of leading Juventus’s frontline will fall firmly on Kolo Muani’s shoulders. The 25-year-old has shown he can deliver under pressure, finding the net in crucial moments and offering far more than just goals, his ability to hold up play, link with midfielders like Francisco Conceicao and Nico Gonzalez, and draw defenders out of position will be vital against Bologna’s well-organised back line.
What makes Kolo Muani especially dangerous is his knack for exploiting space in behind, an area where Bologna may be vulnerable given their preference to push full-backs forward. His instinctive runs and sharp finishing could punish even the slightest lapse in concentration.
As Juventus look to break their poor away run and tighten their grip on a top-four spot, Kolo Muani is the man to watch, not only for what he can do on the ball, but for how his presence reshapes Juventus’s attacking geometry in a game of such magnitude.
Prediction
Bologna FC 1909 1-1 Juventus
With nerves expected to play a role and recent meetings between the two sides proving closely contested, this could be another tense affair. Juventus’s experience and record in this fixture might give them a psychological edge, but Bologna’s form and hunger should not be underestimated. The Hard Tackle predicts an exciting 1-1 draw between these sides.