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Sports activities Mole previews Sunday’s Serie A conflict between Juventus and Bologna, together with predictions, crew information and potential lineups.
After claiming the season’s first silverware on Wednesday evening, Juventus await the go to of lowly Bologna on Sunday, aiming to get their Scudetto defence again on monitor.
Having lifted the Supercoppa Italiana following victory over Napoli, sixth-placed Juve will now search to get better from a chastening defeat to Inter Milan final day trip in Serie A.
Match preview
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Juventus have picked up 33 league factors all through a to date inconsistent marketing campaign, which represents their joint-lowest tally at this stage within the final decade – a interval throughout which they’ve dominated Calcio, with 9 successive Scudetti to show it.
Their most troublesome points underneath rookie coach Andrea Pirlo have been a disjointed midfield and in defence, the place the Bianconeri have curiously saved simply three clear sheets thus far – regardless of having among the finest ‘targets conceded’ columns on the peninsula.
Actually, that’s the place their weaknesses had been uncovered by the ruthless counter-attacking of skilled Inter final week, as Pirlo’s males capitulated within the Derby d’Italia.
Subsequent victory within the Supercoppa has proved a nice distraction from their current travails, as they’ve slipped ten factors off the livid tempo set by would-be ‘Winter Champions’ Milan – albeit with a recreation in hand.
Forward of subsequent week’s eminently winnable Coppa Italia quarter-final tie with Serie B facet SPAL, Bologna’s go to would seem to current an ideal alternative to maintain the stress on within the Milan golf equipment’ rear-view mirror – with the Emilian outfit an everyday whipping boy for the Outdated Woman.
Throughout their very good streak of 9 consecutive league-winning seasons, Juventus have gone unbeaten in opposition to Bologna in Serie A – profitable 13 and drawing three of their 16 conferences.
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Final week, Bologna lastly ended an eight-round winless streak by getting the higher of Verona, as Riccardo Orsolini struck the one objective from the penalty spot.
As a measure of the previous Juventus winger’s affect, every of the Rossoblu’s 5 league wins this time period have include the twice-capped Italy worldwide on the pitch, whereas of their 4 video games with out him, Bologna have collected simply two factors.
If coach Sinisa Mihajlovic was trying to construct momentum on the again of a primary success in a number of weeks, he would have been shortly disheartened by a look on the fixture listing; after travelling to Turin this week, subsequent time they host Milan.
There’s little secret about why his facet lie outdoors the highest half of the desk, as a result of they’ve conceded 31 targets to date – the identical quantity that they had let in at this stage final 12 months. On solely three earlier events have the Rossoblu shipped extra within the first half of a marketing campaign – and there nonetheless stays 90 minutes to face in opposition to Cristiano Ronaldo and firm.
Moreover, they’ve claimed solely six factors on the highway, with their solely away win in 2020-21 coming in opposition to Sampdoria on the finish of November.
Mihajlovic hailed his crew’s renewed willpower and “desperation to win in any respect prices” in what was a merited win over constant Verona at Dall’Ara. Doubtless, Bologna should match such depth and want once more on Sunday, as they enter the Allianz Stadium as significantly unfancied underdogs.
Juventus Serie A type: WLWWWL
Juventus type (all competitions): WWWWLW
Bologna Serie A type: DDDDLW
Staff Information
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Andrea Pirlo’s defensive mini-crisis started to ease in midweek, with the return of right-back Juan Cuadrado from quarantine proving a much-needed shot within the arm to his facet. Nevertheless, Matthijs de Ligt, Alex Sandro and Merih Demiral are all nonetheless unavailable for Juventus, so veteran Giorgio Chiellini could also be pressed into motion for the third time in per week – alternatively, Danilo may shift inside to centre-back.
Additionally absent might be Paulo Dybala, whose season has been badly scarred by sickness and harm, with Alvaro Morata probably to associate Cristiano Ronaldo up entrance. Nevertheless, Dejan Kulusevski performed in help of the Portuguese famous person within the Supercoppa and might be allowed to proceed there on Sunday.
Solely long-term absentees Ibrahima Mbaye, Gary Medel and Federico Santander are set to overlook out for Bologna, with Sinisa Mihajlovic inclined to subject his acquainted 4-2-3-1 setup in Turin.
Final week, trustworthy servant Rodrigo Palacio was given a uncommon relaxation however is predicted to reclaim his place within the XI, with Musa Barrow shifting out broad and younger Emanuel Vignato most likely dropping to the bench.
Juventus potential beginning lineup:
Szczesny; Cuadrado, Bonucci, Danilo, Frabotta; Ramsey, Arthur, Bentancur, McKennie; Morata, Ronaldo
Bologna potential beginning lineup:
Skorupski; De Silvestri, Tomiyasu, Danilo, Dijks; Schouten, Svanberg; Orsolini, Soriano, Barrow; Palacio
We are saying: Juventus 2-0 Bologna
There might be little proof to current a case for something apart from a house win in Turin this Sunday – significantly as Bologna are inclined to wilt away from their beloved Emilian base.
This encounter may show a possibility for Alvaro Morata to get again on the scoresheet and at last nail down a definitive spot in Andrea Pirlo’s first-choice choice.
High betting tip
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