01 October 2022
On 2 October Juventus play host to Bolonga. The first match of a new month to start afresh - not since 1968 had the Bianconeri failed to win a Serie A encounter in September.
Certainly, if past form against Sunday's opponents is anything to go by, there can be justified optimism in the ranks. Juve have remained unbeaten in 38 of the last 39 league games against Bologna, winning 28 of those meetings.
Juventus - Bologna | The last match at the Allianz Stadium
LAST SEASON'S LATE LATE SHOW
The most recent meeting, however, ended in a draw, thanks to Dušan Vlahović's 95th minute equaliser.
Dušan has scored in all of his last three games against Bologna in the league. Only against Sampdoria between 2020 and 2021 has the striker found the net in four matches in a row against the same opponent in Serie A, a record he'll be gunning to repeat after recharging his batteries with his national side, scoring one and setting up another in back-to-back victories that saw Serbia claim promotion to the top tier of the Nations League.
Worth considering is the fact that Vlahović has not scored in his last four official matches with the Juventus shirt. Since joining the Bianconeri he has never gone five straight matches without a goal in all competitions - extra motivation to rediscover his aim tomorrow.
And if any other stimulus was needed, the Juve number nine is playing catch up to Bologna's frontman in the current Serie A capocannoniere standings.
MEDEL IN THE MIDDLE
Gary Medel will be the player tasked with organising the Bologna rearguard in an attempt to hold back the Bianconeri. The Chilean is Bologna's stand-out player in defence with the most successful passes, the most intercepted balls and the most defensive blocks for his team this season.
Click here for more on the opposition from Emilia.
CLEAN BILL OF HEALTH
The Juventus contingent came through their international duties unscathed despite a scare for Fabio Miretti, which obliged him to withdraw from his Italy Under 21 commitments. Also, recovering from injury and once again available for selection are Wojciech Szczęsny, Alex Sandro, Adrien Rabiot and Manuel Locatelli.
Ángel Di María will be serving the first of his two-match ban, but returning from suspension are both Arek Milik and Juan Cuadrado. Massimiliano Allegri confirmed that the former is in line for a place in the starting line-up alongside Vlahović because the aim is simple, win.
We have won only two games. In this moment, we have to do our talking on the pitch, starting with winning our game tomorrow." Massimiliano Allegri, Juventus Coach
