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Juventus' Paul Pogba, right, takes on Bologna Alex Ferrari during a Serie A soccer match between Juventus and Bologna at the Juventus stadium, in Turin, Italy, Sunday, Oct. 4, 2015. (AP Photo/Massimo Pinca)
Juventus' Paul Pogba, right, takes on Bologna Alex Ferrari during a Serie A soccer match between Juventus and Bologna at the Juventus stadium, in Turin, Italy, Sunday, Oct. 4, 2015. (AP Photo/Massimo Pinca)Massimo Pinca/Associated Press

Bologna vs. Juventus: Team News, Predicted Lineups, Live Stream, TV Info

Adam DigbyFeb 18, 2016

Juventus will be already thinking about next week’s UEFA Champions League clash with Bayern Munich, but they would be making a major mistake if they underestimate a vastly improved Bologna.

Indeed, before welcoming the German side to Turin, the Bianconeri travel to the Stadio Renato Dall'Ara to face coach Roberto Donadoni’s men.

After initially struggling on their return to the top flight, the arrival of the former Parma boss has revived Bologna's fortunes, and they are sitting 10th in the Serie A table.

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Oddly, however, the Felsinei have done much better away from home, with only Juventus (nine) and Napoli (seven) having won more games on the road than Bologna (six), something Donadoni addressed in a recent interview with Sky Italia.

“Sometimes the pressure of playing at home can make the players so eager to prove themselves that they struggle,” he said (h/t Football Italia). “They should play with joy and that is when entertaining matches emerge.”

Juventus' players celebrate at the end of the Italian Serie A  football match Juventus Vs Napoli on February 13, 2016 at the 'Juventus Stadium' in Turin. / AFP / MARCO BERTORELLO        (Photo credit should read MARCO BERTORELLO/AFP/Getty Images)

He also acknowledged the “gap in quality” between themselves and the reigning champions, who will also face a number of injury concerns ahead of this encounter.

Alex Sandro is the latest addition to a lengthy list of Juventus players with fitness issues, with the club’s official website noting he withdrew from training on Tuesday with a muscle problem.

With Kwadwo Asamoah, Mario Lemina, Giorgio Chiellini, Mario Mandzukic and Martin Caceres all already out, head coach Massimiliano Allegri will have to balance his selections carefully with that Bayern fixture looming.

Nevertheless, having finally climbed back to the summit of Serie A, the Bianconeri will hope to reinforce their advantage by taking all three points from Bologna and continuing their club-record winning streak.

“These have been three very intense months and it was a great achievement to overtake Napoli,” Allegri told reporters at his post-match press conference last weekend. “We are improving, but can do even better.”

TURIN, ITALY - FEBRUARY 13:  Juventus FC coach Massimiliano Allegri shouts to his players during the Serie A match between and Juventus FC and SSC Napoli at Juventus Arena on February 13, 2016 in Turin, Italy.  (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

Date: Friday, February 19

Time: 7:45 p.m. GMT/2:45 p.m. ET

Venue: Stadio Renato Dall'Ara, Bologna

TV Info: BT Sport Europe (UK), BeIn Sports (USA)

Live Stream: BT Connect (UK)

Form Lines

Last five domestic results:

Sassuolo 0-2 BolognaJuventus 1-0 AS Roma
Bologna 3-2 SampdoriaChievo 0-4 Juventus
Frosinone 1-0 BolognaJuventus 1-0 Genoa
Bologna 1-1 FiorentinaFrosinone 0-2 Juventus
Udinese 0-1 BolognaJuventus 1-0 Napoli

Probable Formations

Bologna: (4-3-3): Angelo da Costa; Alex Ferrari, Marios Oikonomou, Daniele Gastaldello, Adam Masina; Godfred Donsah, Amadou Diawara, Saphir Taider; Anthony Mounier; Mattia Destro, Emanuele Giaccherini.

Unavailable: Emil Krafth, Luca Rossettini (both injured).

Juventus (3-5-2): Gigi Buffon; Daniele Rugani, Leonardo Bonucci, Andrea Barzagli; Stephan Lichtsteiner, Stefano Sturaro, Hernanes, Paul Pogba, Patrice Evra; Alvaro Morata, Simone Zaza.

Unavailable: Giorgio Chiellini, Mario Mandzukic, Kwadwo Asamoah, Martin Caceres and Rubinho (all injured).

MILAN, ITALY - JANUARY 06:  Emanuele Giaccherini of Bologna FC celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the Serie A match between AC Milan and Bologna FC at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on January 6, 2016 in Milan, Italy.  (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty

Player to Watch

While the Bianconeri will be looking towards their next match, Emanuele Giaccherini may relish the opportunity to go up against his former club.

The 30-year-old is at Bologna on loan from Sunderland, having spent the previous two seasons with the English Premier League side.

Prior to that, the Italy international was an important part of Antonio Conte’s Juventus, winning two Serie A titles and scoring six goals in 52 appearances for the club.

While his time back on the peninsula has been disrupted by injury, Giaccherini has already netted the same number of times in just 16 matches for Bologna after immediately becoming part of the first choice XI.

“I also wanted to return to Serie A to get back on the national team,” he told Sky Italia last year (h/t GianlucaDiMarzio.com). “The last time I was selected proved I'm held in high regard, now it's up to me to make it difficult for [Italy coach Antonio] Conte to keep me out of the squad.”

BOLOGNA, ITALY - DECEMBER 19:  Mattia Destro # 10 of Bologna FC celebrates after scoring his team's second goal  during the Serie A match between Bologna FC and Empoli FC at Stadio Renato Dall'Ara on December 19, 2015 in Bologna, Italy.  (Photo by Mario C

Key Battle

As well as ensuring Giaccherini is kept in check, Juventus will also need to be aware of the danger posed by Mattia Destro. Another player who has spent the past few years on the move, the striker finally appears to be delivering his best form under the guidance of Bologna coach Donadoni.

The 24-year-old striker has weighed in with eight goals and three assists, including a brace in a win against Napoli and vital efforts that earned draws against Lazio and his former club AS Roma.

“I like our attitude of attacking, even if sometimes we lose the balance” Donadoni told Sky Italia last weekend (h/t Football Italia), and the task of preventing that approach paying dividends will fall upon Leonardo Bonucci and Andrea Barzagli.

As discussed previously, the duo were superb in the top-of-the-table clash with Napoli and will need to be so once more as they face off against a team who have surprised many of the better sides in the division.

Odds (via Odds Shark)

Away win: 50-111

Home win: 13-2

Draw: 16-5

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