The battle for fourth place is heating up more and more with each passing day, with five teams separated by just three points. Juventus currently leads the pack, one point ahead of Bologna and two ahead of the two Roman teams. This round of matches could help untangle the knot, as two crucial head-to-head clashes are on the schedule: without taking anything away from Roma vs. Fiorentina, the highlight match will be at the Dall’Ara stadium between Bologna and Juventus.
Juve returned to winning ways a week ago, beating bottom-of-the-table Monza 2-0, but – with all due respect to the Brianza side, now destined for relegation – it was not a convincing test. Doubts remain, and the match against Bologna will probably provide some answers about the resilience of Igor Tudor’s team, which is almost forced to finish in the top four to avoid what would be considered a total failure.
The most obvious improvement under the Croatian coach, who arrived last March to replace Thiago Motta, seems to be in defense: Juventus, while not shining in terms of play or goals scored, has returned to conceding few goals (three in five games and never more than two per game). Bologna’s attack will be a good test, but it faltered last Monday in Udine: Vincenzo Italiano’s team could not get past a 0-0 draw against the Friulians, which perhaps was a tougher result than the Bianconeri deserved. However, it remains a season to remember for Orsolini and his teammates: in recent weeks, Bologna has a lot at stake in the league—repeating their Champions League qualification would be a titanic feat—and in the Coppa Italia, where they will face Milan in the final at the Olimpico on May 14.
Bologna-Juventus: the latest news on the line-ups
Italiano will have to do without the injured Ndoye on the left wing: the Swiss player will be replaced by 21-year-old Dominguez, who is less experienced than his Swiss counterpart but could still pose a threat to the Bianconeri. In attack, it’s a close battle between Dallinga and Castro, while the other spot is up for grabs between Aebischer and Ferguson. Behind the two center backs will be Beukema and Lucumì, with Casale starting on the bench.
Tudor has problems in defense: without Gatti and Kelly, the Croatian coach is likely to bring back Savona in the back three alongside Renato Veiga and Kalulu. McKennie and Cambiaso will start on the wings—the American has the edge over his compatriot Weah—while Kolo Muani and Nico Gonzalez, both on target against Monza, will continue in the hole. The Argentine and the Frenchman will support the recovered Vlahovic. Yildiz is suspended after being sent off in the match against Monza.
Odds comparison
A draw is priced at 3.00 on Goldbet, Lottomatica, and Snai. A goal is priced at 1.90 on Goldbet and Lottomatica and 1.87 on Snai.
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The prediction
Four draws in the last four matches between Bologna and Juventus, all ending with at least one goal per side. However, the Felsinei have not beaten the Bianconeri at the Dall’Ara since the last century: it was 1998, and in the 21 matches played in the Emilian capital since then, Juve have won 14 times and drawn seven. Will Italiano be able to break the spell? The feeling is that Bologna, slightly favored by the bookmakers, can get a positive result against a recovering Juve side that will have to deal with some important absences. A draw, which would be the fifth in a row, cannot be ruled out.
Probable lineups for Bologna-Juventus
BOLOGNA (4-2-3-1): Skorupski; Calabria, Beukema, Lucumì, Miranda; Freuler, Aebischer; Orsolini, Odgaard, Dominguez; Dallinga.
JUVENTUS (3-4-2-1): Di Gregorio; Savona, Kalulu, Renato Veiga; McKennie, Locatelli, Thuram, Cambiaso; Kolo Muani, Nico Gonzalez; Vlahovic.