04 May 2018
TITLE CELEBRATIONS?
Should Juve beat Bologna at home (Saturday 5 May, 20:45 CEST), and Torino beat Napoli at the San Paolo (Sunday 6 May 15:00 CEST) this weekend then the Bianconeri will be mathematically crowned Serie A champions for the seventh year in succession.
STUNNING SAN SIRO TURNAROUND
Last time out Juve completed a sensational comeback away to Inter winning 2-3 in the San Siro, having trailed 2-1 in the final 10 minutes.
Douglas Costa got Juve off the mark in Milan when he volleyed home Juan Cuadrado’s flicked on cross after 13 minutes of play to give the Bianconeri a 0-1 lead. Five minutes later Inter’s Matias Vecino saw red for a late challenge on Mario Mandzukic after a consultation with VAR.
However, Inter got back in it in the second half when Mauro Icardi headed the home side level in the 52nd minute. The Nerazzurri would then go in-front not long after when Andrea Barzagli turned Ivan Perisic’s intelligent low-cross into his own net.
The Bianconeri rallied and drew level in the 87th minute, Juan Cuadrado played a one-two with substitute Paulo Dybala to get in-behind the Inter defence, and his angled shot took a deflection off of Milan Skriniar to nestle past Samir Handanovic in the Inter goal. Juve weren’t done there and just two minutes later a Dybala free-kick was headed into the back of the Inter net by Gonzalo Higuain to clinch an incredible fightback and all three points.
SPOTLIGHT ON BOLOGNA
Roberto Donadoni’s men look on course to end the season in and around midtable barring any late upsets. However, their recent form has seen them record just two wins in their last 10, with five defeats and three draws, although two of those were against both Rome sides. The Rossoblu welcomed back experienced midfielder, Blerim Dzemaili from Montreal Impact in January as well as signing Juventus winger, Riccardo Orsolini on loan.
Last time out Bologna hosted AC Milan at the Renato Dall’Ara and went behind in the 34th minute when Hakan Calhanoglu scored with a strike from distance. Orsolini thought he had equalised four minutes later but his goal was disallowed, things went from bad to worse for the home side as in first half stoppages, Giacomo Bonaventure doubled Milan’s lead.
Sebastien De Maio replied for Bologna in the 74th minute but his goal was to be nothing more than a consolation as Bologna ended up falling 1-2 to Milan.
LAST TIME VS BOLOGNA
The two sides met back in December, and Bosnian midfielder, Miralem Pjanic gave Juve the lead in Emilia after 27 minutes with a sublime free-kick. Pjanic then turned provider when his chipped pass over the top was volleyed home by Mandzukic to put Juve two up at half-time. Blaise Matuidi made it three when Alex Sandro’s cross was only half-cleared and the Frenchman volleyed home to score his first-ever goal for the club, and hand Juve a 0-3 win.
#JUVEBOLOGNA MATCH STATS
- Juventus are unbeaten in 29 out of 30 Serie A matches played against Bologna.
- The Bianconeri have kept a cleansheet in six of their last eight vs Bologna, conceding just twice in total.
- In 70 total league matches played between the two Juve have won 40, drawn 25 and lost five.
- Bologna haven't won away from home since December against Chievo Verona, having then drawn twice and lost six.
- Juve (five) and Bologna (four) have scored the most direct free-kicks so far this season.
- Paulo Dybala and Simone Verdi are the two players to have scored the most free-kicks this season, three-a-piece.
- The Rossoblu have scored 26% (10 out of 38) of their goals from distance, the most in the league.
- Both Sami Khedira and Blaise Matuidi scored their first-ever Juventus goals against Bologna.
- Bologna's Verdi has been involved in 18 of their goals (eight goals, 10 assists).
- Massimiliano Allegri's record against Roberto Donadoni stands at nine wins, two draws, two defeats.
