Juventus vs. Bologna: Team News, Predicted Lineups, Live Stream, TV Info
For the second time this season, Juventus shrugged off poor domestic form to register a superb victory in the Champions League. Indeed, having been hugely disappointing against Napoli last weekend, the Bianconeri put on a dominant display against Sevilla this week, running out 2-0 winners.
However, unlike their triumph away to Manchester City, this latest result appeared to signal that a number of their problems were coming to an end. Able to field Alvaro Morata and Sami Khedira, Juve boss Massimiliano Allegri’s squad is returning to full health and looks vastly improved as a result.
“Now we simply have to perform in Italy the way we're doing in Europe,” Morata told TuttoSport this week (h/t Football Italia).
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They will hope to do just that against a struggling Bologna, the newly promoted side currently sitting in 19th place with just three points from their opening six matches.
“We have to believe in each other because we are a good team,” midfielder Luca Rizzo told Sky Italia last weekend, per Forza Italian Football.
They can expect a tough task at Juventus Stadium and will not have enjoyed seeing the Bianconeri rediscover their best form on Wednesday after their own poor run.
Allegri must look to continue the positive upturn, and with the international break directly following this weekend, he may not rotate his team too much in order to do so but was pleased with what he saw in their most recent outing.
“I trust both myself and my players to get our season back on track,” Allegri said at a press conference directly after the Sevilla clash. “The important thing though is that the players learn from the poorer performances when they come around, and to keep developing both as individuals and as a team.”
Date: Sunday, October 4, 2015
Time: 5 p.m. BST (12 p.m. ET)
Venue: Juventus Stadium, Turin
TV Info: BT Sport Europe 2 (UK)
Live Stream: BT Sport App (UK)
Form Lines: Last 5 domestic results:
Probable Formations
Juventus (4-3-1-2): Gigi Buffon; Andrea Barzagli, Leonardo Bonucci, Giorgio Chiellini, Alex Sandro, Sami Khedira, Mario Lemina, Paul Pogba, Juan Cuadrado; Alvaro Morata, Paulo Dybala
Unavailable: Mario Mandzukic, Claudio Marchisio, Rubinho, Stephan Lichtsteiner, Stefano Sturaro (all injured)
Bologna (4-3-3): Antonio Mirante, Alex Ferrari, Daniele Gastaldello, Luca Rossettini, Adam Masina; Saphir Taider, Amadou Diawara, Anthony Mounier; Franco Brienza, Mattia Destro, Luca Rizzo
Unavailable: Franco Zuculini, Emanuele Giaccherini, Godfred Donsah, Emil Krafth (all injured)
Player to Watch
While Juventus finally delivered an all-round excellent performance against Sevilla, perhaps the most important point was the fact the match was only the second clean sheet they have recorded this term.
Looking solid throughout, the Bianconeri appeared to rediscover the solidity that has long been a hallmark of this team. It will likely be tested by Mattia Destro on Sunday, with the former AS Roma and Milan striker expected to spearhead the Bologna XI at Juventus Stadium.
Yet to net for his new club, the 24-year-old has reached double figures in three of the last four seasons, and his ability to do so again will be vital for their survival hopes. The likes of Leonardo Bonucci and Giorgio Chiellini will need to be alert against Destro’s threat in order for Juve to register another shutout.
Key Battle
If the clash between the Bianconeri defence and Destro will be vital, at the other end the home side will hope to see Alvaro Morata continue the form he showed against Sevilla.
The Spanish striker netted in his fifth consecutive Champions League appearance, matching a club record set by Alessandro Del Piero 20 years earlier, and after the win he expressed his delight at that achievement.
“Obviously doing what a legend of football like Del Piero has done in the past is a reason of pride for me,” Morata told the official UEFA website. “I'm proud but I don't want to stop here. I want to keep working hard to help the team winning and to score more goals.”
The task of stopping him will likely fall to Bologna defender Luca Rossettini, who has also played well thus far in 2015/16. According to statistics, courtesy of WhoScored.com, the 30-year-old has averaged 1.7 tackles, 2.8 interceptions and 4.8 clearances per game but will face a tough task as he goes head-to-head with Morata.
Odds (via Odds Shark)
Away win: 11-1
Home win: 1-4
Draw: 17/4
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