Bologna hosts Juventus on Sunday in a Serie A match with direct implications for the teams’ pursuit of Champions League qualification. The contest at Stadio Renato Dall’Ara pits fourth place against fifth with only a point separating the sides as the season nears its conclusion.
Bologna enters the fixture following a scoreless draw against Udinese. Despite dropping points, the team remains a contender for a top-four finish and recently reached the Coppa Italia final for the first time in over 50 years, according to one match preview.
Juventus, under manager Igor Tudor, secured a 2-0 victory over Monza last weekend. However, the Turin club has experienced inconsistency, particularly away from home against teams in the top half of the table this Serie A season.
The historical record favors Juventus in away matches against Bologna, with Juventus not losing in Bologna in any competition since 1998. Despite this, recent encounters, including a 3-3 draw on their last visit to Renato Dall’Ara and a 2-2 draw in December's reverse fixture, indicate a trend of draws between the clubs.
Bologna holds a strong home record this season, losing only once in Serie A home fixtures. The team has won nine of its last ten competitive home games. Their ability to score has been consistent, finding the net in their last 16 home matches across competitions.
Igor Tudor anticipates being without several players for the match. He confirmed on Saturday that six key first teamers are unavailable, including Arkadiusz Milik and Dusan Vlahovic. Kenan Yildiz is also serving a suspension.
Speaking ahead of the match, Igor Tudor discussed the absences and the team's approach. He noted that the team has shown readiness for important games.
Regarding his team's capability, Igor Tudor stated, "When the team prepares in the way I like it, they can achieve anything, regardless of the opponent, strong or not."
