Stadio Renato Dall’Ara is the venue as Bologna and Juventus go head-to-head in Serie A’s top-seven six-pointer. Both teams are chasing European qualification, with the visitors sitting narrowly ou...
Stadio Renato Dall’Ara is the venue as Bologna and Juventus go head-to-head in Serie A’s top-seven six-pointer. Both teams are chasing European qualification, with the visitors sitting narrowly outside the top six pre-round.
10-man Bologna defied a numerical disadvantage to hold Lazio to a 1-1 draw last weekend, maintaining their second-best start to a Serie A season in the three-points-for-a-win era. However, the hosts head into proceedings on the back of consecutive winless league matches (D1, L1).
Bologna’s confidence received a boost in midweek Europa League action, as they came from behind to beat Celta Vigo 2-1 on the road. Vincenzo Italiano’s next assignment is to rebuild Bologna’s home fortress after newly promoted Cremonese thrashed his side 3-1 in their last outing at Dall’Ara.
Like their rivals, Juventus were triumphant in midweek, scoring twice after the halftime interval to beat Champions League debutants Pafos 2-0 at the Allianz Stadium. It was a perfect response to a gut-wrenching 2-1 defeat at bitter Serie A rivals, Napoli, last weekend, which hampered their top-four bid.
Only a point adrift of the top six, Juventus remain firmly in the race for European qualification. Yet, securing Champions League football could prove rather tricky, with fourth-placed Roma currently four points clear of Luciano Spalletti’s underperforming side.
Match Preview
Bologna
Dall’Ara has been a stronghold this season. Despite Cremonese’s stunning victory last time out, that loss represents Bologna’s only home failure in 2025/26 (W6, D3). Nonetheless, Italiano’s charges are at risk of losing back-to-back home league games for the first time since January 2022.
Bologna can draw confidence from their promising league record against sides starting this round below them in the standings (W6, D4, L1). However, there’s no room for complacency, even though Bologna’s last five meetings with Juventus have ended all square.
Adding to this sentiment, Bologna last got the better of Juventus in any competition in 2011. Furthermore, they’ve not beaten this opposition on home turf in Serie A since 1998 (D8, L14), highlighting the magnitude of the task awaiting the Rossoblu this weekend.
Juventus
While their superb away run in Emilia-Romagna looks comforting, Juventus would be naive to take anything for granted. Indeed, Spalletti’s men have suffered three defeats across their last five away league matches (W1, D1), including both visits to higher-ranked opposition.
Juventus had long been synonymous with defensive solidity. However, they’re no longer the impenetrable force they once were at the back. For context, the Turin giants have failed to keep a clean sheet in 12 of their last 13 Serie A outings on the road.
Topically, they’ve only registered two shutouts on their six top-flight visits to Dall’Ara since 2020. Still, they scored on each occasion, netting at least two goals four times. Jonathan David seems like a man capable of extending Juventus’ superb scoring run at this stadium, having found the net twice in his last five appearances for the club.
Team News
In addition to first-choice goalkeeper Lukasz Skorupski, Bologna will be without Remo Freuler, Martin Vitik, and Nicolo Casale. However, after resting against Celta, Lewis Ferguson, Jens Odgaard, and standout winger Riccardo Orsolini are all set to return to the starting lineup for this mouth-watering fixture.
On the other hand, Juventus cannot call upon long-term absentees Arkadiusz Milik and Federico Gatti. Gleison Bremer and Daniele Rugani have just returned from injuries but will likely start on the bench. Meanwhile, Dusan Vlahovic remains sidelined with a groin injury, meaning David is likely to spearhead Juve’s attack.
Bologna vs Juventus Potential Starting Lineups
Bologna (4-2-3-1): Ravaglia; Holm, Lucumi, Heggem, Miranda; Moro, Ferguson; Orsolini, Odgaard, Cambiaghi; Castro.
Juventus (3-4-2-1): Di Gregorio; Kalulu, Kelly, Koopmeiners; McKennie, Locatelli, Thuram, Cambiaso; Conceicao, Yildiz; David.
Bologna vs Juventus Prediction
Bologna face a significant mental hurdle, having failed to beat Juventus at home this century. However, this could be a perfect opportunity for the Rossoblu to buck this humiliating trend.
Apart from their outstanding home form this season, Bologna can bank on Juventus’ well-documented travel sickness, as they seek three precious points to maintain pressure on fourth-placed Roma.
Needless to say, one goal could make all the difference, with tight, low-scoring affairs a recurring theme in this matchup.
Category: General Sports
