Bologna in casa

Bologna in their own backyard

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Bologna in their own backyard
Bologna in their own backyard
Bologna in their own backyard

Donadoni’s Dall’Ara

If Bologna’s season in general has followed a pattern of starting at a snail’s pace under former manager Delio Rossi, before racing through the gears with current incumbent Roberto Donadoni, the same thing can be said about the club’s form at the Stadio Renato Dall’Ara, where Juventus will be the visitors on Friday evening.

With Rossi at the helm, the Rossoblu took only three points from five home matches, courtesy of a September victory against Frosinone, losing to Sassuolo, Udinese, Palermo and Inter.

Donadoni’s arrival immediately brought about an upturn in fortunes in their backyard, seeing off Atalanta 3-0 in his first game in charge before earning a creditable 2-2 draw with Roma and an outstanding 3-2 win over then league leaders Napoli.

Although defeats to fellow mid-table outfits Empoli and Chievo would follow, the Emilia Romagna outfit have since steadied the ship in front of their own fans, where they are unbeaten now in their last three home ties thanks to spoils shared with perennial heavyweights Lazio and Fiorentina either side of a 3-2 success over Sampdoria on 31 January.

Bologna classifica in casa

Shot shy

Bologna’s total of 140 shots at home is the second lowest in Serie A this term, beaten only by Sampdoria (132), while only Carpi (43), Empoli (45) and Udinese (47) have managed fewer efforts on target than the Rossoblu’s 48.

If they have struggled somewhat to test the opposition goalkeeper, the side’s improved record at the Dall’Ara owes itself, in no small part, to an ability to make their shots count when they eventually come their way. Indeed, the 18 goals scored in front of their home supporters is marginally above the league average (17.9).

Winning back the ball

For a team that does not tend to enjoy the majority of possession on home soil (their 46.12 per cent represents the seventh lowest in Serie A), Bologna are at least very adept at winning the ball back, having done so a league-high 905 times.

Masina

Meanwhile fans of the Rossoblu have been able to cheer the sixth most tackles in the division (191), behind only Carpi (226), Sampdoria (209), Palermo (207), Verona (196) and Atalanta (193).

For all of their hard defensive work, however, Donadoni’s men suffer one of the worst records for giving away scoring opportunities to the opposition. Indeed, their 54 shots on target conceded are only lower than the troublesome tallies posted by strugglers Sampdoria (75), Palermo (69) Frosinone (69) and Verona (61).

Destro danger

If home is where the heart is, then Mattia Destro’s is most certainly at the Dall’Ara, where he has scored seven of eight league goals this season. The former Roma and Milan man’s only strike outside of Bologna incidentally came last weekend against Udinese.

The Bianconeri backline will be wary of letting Destro pull the trigger at all, given his rate of converting just under 50 per cent of his efforts on target (15).

Destro

Few players have created more scoring chances than the tall frontman’s eight at home in 2015/16, but a special mention should go out to those who have done so. Anthony Mounier’s 14 contributions have made him the team’s most creative outlet out of the regular starting XI and the Frenchman will be looking to net what would be a second goal in as many matches against Juventus, having poked past Gigi Buffon back in October.

Meanwhile, operating on the opposite flank, ex Bianconero Emanuele Giaccherini boasts the best strike rate with three goals coming from his four shots on target.

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