Conceding a heartbreaking stoppage-time equalizer condemned Juventus to a 1-1 away draw against Lecce, marking their sixth stalemate across their last eight outings in all competitions.
That inability to turn single-point affairs into victories has significantly derailed Bianconeri’s hopes of halting a four-year title duck in Serie A.
Despite finishing the last round as the only side in Italy’s top flight yet to lose a league match this season, Juventus trail table-topping Napoli by six points. Furthermore, Motta’s charges languish two points adrift of fourth-placed Fiorentina, highlighting the necessity to get into the win column more frequently.
Achieving that goal against Bologna is no small feat by any means. Vincenzo Italiano has proved a worthy successor of Motta following a bumpy start to life at Stadio Renato Dall’Ara. Last weekend’s thumping 3-0 home victory against Venezia lifted the Rossoblu to within five points of Juventus in the Serie A standings.
With a game in hand on most sides sitting above them in the table pre-round, Bologna remain firmly in contention for another top-five finish. Italiano’s charges head into proceedings as pre-match outsiders but are more than capable of causing an upset in Turin on the evidence of their recent meetings with Juventus.
Juventus come into this fixture looking to put a decisive halt to a three-game winless run against Bologna. All three showdowns have ended all square, with the Bianconeri conceding the opening goal on each occasion, underscoring the magnitude of the task awaiting them this weekend.
Therefore, another stalemate is well on the cards. As aforementioned, sharing the spoils has been a running theme for Juventus this season, especially in Turin.
Motta’s men have drawn half of their home games in all competitions but remain undefeated in their last 14 Serie A outings at the Allianz Stadium.
Remarkably, those results form part of Juve’s formidable 22-match unbeaten streak in league action, accounting for the longest current run without losing in Italy’s top flight.
Extending that purple patch may also witness a quick-fire start. Indeed, three of Juventus’ last four home league matches have produced an opener inside the first 20 minutes.
