Two of Italy’s European contenders meet on Sunday night as Bologna host Juventus at the Stadio Renato Dall’Ara, with both sides looking to build on midweek victories in continental competition. The two clubs arrive in contrasting moods domestically — Bologna riding high after a stellar start, Juventus still struggling to find consistency under Luciano Spalletti.
Match Preview
Battle of Contrasting Fortunes
While Bologna’s resurgence has been one of the standout stories of the Serie A campaign, Juventus find themselves labouring through another inconsistent spell. The Bianconeri currently sit in seventh place — an unfamiliar position for Italy’s most decorated side — and their pursuit of a Champions League spot remains precarious.
Despite a 2-1 defeat to reigning champions Napoli last weekend, Juventus responded positively in Europe by beating Pafos 2-0 in Turin, thanks to two second-half goals that restored some belief. Those back-to-back continental wins, including a previous triumph over Bodo/Glimt, have kept their European hopes alive heading into the final stage of the league phase.
However, Juventus’s domestic form tells a different story. They’ve lost three of their past five away fixtures and managed just one clean sheet in their last dozen outings — an alarming statistic for a club once known for defensive excellence. Spalletti, who replaced Massimiliano Allegri in the summer, has so far averaged only 1.6 points per game, struggling to replicate the dominance he once enjoyed at Napoli.
Bologna’s Confidence on the Rise
In contrast, Bologna have surpassed all expectations once again under Vincenzo Italiano. The Rossoblù sit two points above Juventus in the table after their recent 1-1 draw away to Lazio — their second-best start to a Serie A campaign this century, with 25 points from their opening 14 matches.
Even after a surprise 3-1 home defeat to Cremonese earlier this month, Bologna swiftly regrouped, eliminating Parma from the Coppa Italia and then posting back-to-back Europa League victories. Their latest success came on Thursday night, when Federico Bernardeschi — a former Juventus player — scored twice in a 2-0 win over Celta Vigo in Spain.
That result continued Bologna’s strong momentum in Europe and set them up perfectly for a return home, where they have turned the Dall’Ara into a fortress. Remarkably, the Emilian outfit have not lost successive home league matches for almost four years, and with the Supercoppa Italiana trip to Saudi Arabia on the horizon, morale within Italiano’s camp is high.
Head-to-Head: History Favouring Juve
If there is one ray of encouragement for Juventus, it lies in their historical dominance of this fixture. Bologna have not beaten the Bianconeri at the Dall’Ara since November 1998 — a staggering 25-match stretch yielding 17 home defeats. Yet recent performances suggest Sunday’s contest could be much tighter.
The hosts’ confidence, organisation and rapid transitions under Italiano give them a real chance to end that long winless run. By contrast, Juventus’s vulnerability away from home makes them far less formidable than in years past.
Team News
Bologna will be without several key men, including Remo Freuler, Martin Vitik, Nicolo Casale and first-choice goalkeeper Lukasz Skorupski, all sidelined through injury. Italiano has handled such setbacks well, frequently rotating his squad to keep energy levels high amid a packed December schedule.
Lewis Ferguson, Jens Odgaard and Riccardo Orsolini — the team’s top scorer — are expected to return to the starting eleven after being limited to cameos in midweek. It’s likely Italiano will stick with his 4-2-3-1 shape, emphasising possession control and wide attacking movements.
Juventus, meanwhile, have fitness concerns of their own. Dusan Vlahovic faces several more weeks on the sidelines, leaving the striking duties to either Jonathan David or Lois Openda. Youngster Kenan Yildiz, used as a false nine against Napoli, could also feature again after finding some scoring rhythm at home in Serie A.
Defensively, Federico Gatti remains out, while Bremer and Daniele Rugani have only just recovered from injuries. Teun Koopmeiners, normally a midfielder, is expected to continue in his makeshift role within a flexible back three.
For Spalletti, this game represents a stern test of discipline and progression. Juventus have often struggled to establish attacking fluidity, with possession too slow and transitions disjointed. Against a well-drilled Bologna side capable of pressing high and exploiting space, they will have to be sharper both mentally and technically.
Bologna, on the other hand, will look to control the rhythm and exploit the wings through Orsolini and Cambiaghi, while Ferguson and Castro provide late runs into the box. Their pressing game and structured build-up have become hallmarks of Italiano’s rejuvenated system.
Probable Starting XI’s
Bologna (4-2-3-1): Ravaglia; Holm, Lucumi, Heggem, Miranda; Moro, Ferguson; Orsolini, Odgaard, Cambiaghi; Castro.
Juventus (3-4-1-2): Di Gregorio; Kalulu, Kelly, Koopmeiners; McKennie, Locatelli, Thuram, Cambiaso; Conceicao, Yildiz; David.
Prediction
History sides with Juventus, but current form points towards Bologna. The hosts have already beaten top opposition at home this season and shown they can dictate games against heavyweight opponents. Juventus, still adapting to Spalletti’s demands, remain inconsistent away from Turin and defensively fragile.
Prediction: Bologna 2–1 Juventus.
