20 February 2016
After a remarkable 15-match winning run, Friday evening’s testing encounter against Bologna at the Stadio Renato Dall’Ara was perhaps just one game too far for Massimiliano Allegri’s Juventus.
In essence, this was exactly the Tuscan’s view when discussing his side’s performance and a draw that sees them take a two-point lead over Napoli at the top of the table ahead of the Partenopei’s encounter with Milan on Monday night.
For Allegri, against a well-organised and committed Bologna, tonight’s point is one not to be sniffed at.
“It was a tough game and unsurprisingly Bologna pressed high up the field, worked hard and played like a team in very good form,” the Bianconeri boss began. “We would have liked to have won tonight to go four clear of Napoli but we’re coming off the back of a mentally draining 15-match winning streak.
“We started the game well with the chance that fell to (Patrice) Evra and even could have nicked it at the end if the goalkeeper had not intercepted (Paul) Pogba’s fine cross but it just wasn’t to be.”
Honing in on the finer details of Friday’s showing, the 48-year old was grateful once more for the defensive services of Andrea Barzagli, Leonardo Bonucci, Stephan Lichtsteiner and Patrice Evra in restricting the confident hosts to a single shot on goal.
Ultimately for the Bianconeri however, as echoed by Bonucci, that final and decisive touch at the other end of the field was lacking on this occasion.
“When you come up against a team that closes ranks, defends rigidly and works as hard as Bologna did, you need to be not only strong in building the play and trying to break them down but also wary of counter attacks.
“If we did not have such good defenders, we probably would have conceded a goal. Games like this can swing on a single moment of quality which was unfortunately lacking for us tonight.”
Crucially however in the eyes of Allegri, the conclusion of the champions’ magical run since October has in fact done little to change the title picture or indeed their confidence ahead of next week’s encounter with Bayern.
He concluded, “This draw doesn’t change much as far as our season is concerned nor does it detract from what we have achieved so far this term. There’s still a long away to go in the league and from now on there will be no easy matches. Now it’s time to think about Bayern.”
