jbol_match.jpg

Juve march on against Bologna

SHARE
Juve march on against Bologna
Juve march on against Bologna
Juve march on against Bologna

A second half goal by Miralem Pjanic ensured Juventus claimed all three points on home soil by claiming a 2-1 victory against Bologna on Saturday evening. It was Cristiano Ronaldo who broke the deadlock at Allianz Stadium, while Bologna quickly responded through Danilo.

Before kick-off, Cristiano Ronaldo was awarded a specialized jersey to mark the occasion of his 700th career for club and country, while Bologna coach Sinisa Mihajlovic was also given a round of applause by the fans inside the stadium.

The opening 15 minutes showed a Bologna side full of tenacity and determination, but it was the Bianconeri who had created the chances, with Gonzalo Higuain striking on the volley with the outside of his foot to force Skorupski into making a quick save. Ronaldo then scored his 701st goal when he handed the Bianconeri the lead. The attack started from the back through Alex Sandro and Adrien Rabiot, before Ronaldo then rounded his marker to strike home a low effort into the near post.

The scoreline then changed to 1-1 in the 26th minute when Danilo received the ball unmarked inside the box. He chested it down and with no hesitation struck on the half-volley with an excellent and powerful drive into the top of Buffon’s goal frame. Juventus tried to respond back through Danilo, who struck the ball with power and potency only to see Skorupski beat it away. Matthijs de Ligt then made a good block to deny Orsolini’s shot, while on the other end of the field, the visiting goalkeeper was made to rush off his line and beat away Federico Bernardeschi’s threatening cross.

The second half started with Juventus dominating the action around the visitor’s goalmouth, and it was Rabiot who created an excellent chance when he won the ball, burst into the box and beat his defender on the byline. He then pulled the ball back for his teammates, only to see Krejci beat it out of play. Maurizio Sarri’s men were laying on the pressure and it was Skorupski who again kept the scoreline clear, albeit not for long, when he fingertipped Ronaldo’s bullet header. The scoreline then changed 2-1 in favour of the hosts when Pjanic capatalised on a misplaced back pass by Danilo to strike home a low effort past the Bologna stopper.

Sarri’s first change on the stroke of the hour when he introduced Rodrigo Bentancur in place of Sami Khedira. Despite the lead, Juventus were itching for more goals and they kept testing Skorupski, seeing him make yet another save that denied Pipita. A third goal could have very well arrived in the 75th minute when Higuain’s chance saw him collide with Skorupski on the goalline as he chased onto the end of Ronaldo’s excellent ball, while Bernardeschi had a good opportunity to strike on the follow-up but he was blocked by Danilo. Ronaldo was the latest player to be denied by the opposition goalkeeper in the 80th minute, with a move that saw him start and complete it. He ran up the field and laid off wide to Higuain, who then fed him back the ball just inside the box… Ronaldo then turned on the ball and fired straight down the middle only to see his effort beaten away. The crossbar and Buffon then denied Bologna from snatching a late equalizer inside stoppage time after Santander’s first effort smacked the woodwork, before the follow-up on the volley saw Buffon make a fingertip save, as Juventus claimed three more points!

Juventus: Buffon; Cuadrado, Bonucci, De Ligt, Alex Sandro; Khedira (Bentancur 61’), Pjanic, Rabiot (Matuidi 72’); Bernardeschi; Higuain (Dybala 82’), Ronaldo

Substitutes: Szczesny, Pinsoglio, Danilo, Rugani, Demiral, Matuidi, Emre Can, Bentancur, Dybala.

Bologna: Skorupski; Mbaye, Danilo, Bani, Krejci; Poli (Dzemaili 82’), Svanberg (Skov Olsen 79’); Orsolini, Soriano, Sansone (Santander 79’); Palacio

Related Items