Bologna and Juventus will close out Sunday’s Serie A schedule with a high-stakes clash for a place in the Top 6 after both sides suffered upsets last week.
Both Bologna and Juventus performed strongly in their midweek European matches, and one of the two teams could delight their fans with a perfect week in the event of a triumph on Sunday.
Bologna achieved a difficult comeback away at Celta Vigo, showing great form in the process and dominating in all game indicators.
Juventus, on the other hand, had a much more modest opponent and perhaps sweated more than expected, but ultimately outplayed Pafos 2-0.
Only two points separate the teams in the Serie A standings, with both teams needing a win after their poor results in the last round. Juventus lost to the champions, while Bologna drew away at Lazio.
Both teams are in the fight for the Top 4 and a place in the Champions League, but to do so they need to start a winning streak, because the teams above them are in strong form and rarely make mistakes.
How the bookies view it: As close as it gets
Bookmakers actually had difficulties naming a clear favourite and Juventus have a minimal advantage in the odds, as expected.
You can currently back Bologna at 9/5, while Juventus are available at 31/20. If you fancy a draw, you can back this option at 9/4.
Recent head-to-head: Five draws in a row
You won't find a more evenly matched rivalry in Serie A in recent years. One way or another, the last few matches between these two teams have ended with the same result – a draw. More precisely, the last five H2Hs.
The last time this clash produced a winner was back in 2022. If it matters, Juventus had four wins in five matches before that, but the fact is that Bologna have completely nullified their efforts over the last three years.
Players to watch: Yildiz is a weapon
Interestingly, both teams lack a world-class striker, with their top scorers having five and six goals respectively. This makes it quite difficult to pick the right choice with any degree of certainty.
At this point, we can highlight 20-year-old Kenan Yildiz from Juventus, who has definitely improved his form over the last month.
He scored three goals in the last two Serie A matches and also recorded one assist in each of the team's last two Champions League matches. If you are looking for a player who can do everything on the pitch, Yildiz is a good choice for Betano's goal or assist market.
Probable line-ups
Bologna: Ravaglia, Zortea, Lucumi, Heggem, Miranda, Ferguson, Moro, Orsolini, Odgaard, Cambiaghi, Castro
Juventus: Di Gregorio, Kalulu, Kelly, Koopmeiners, Cambiaso, Thuram, Locatelli, McKennie, Conceicao, Yildiz, David
Anything else catch the eye?
To the aforementioned facts about the rivalry in recent years, we can add a rather shocking fact, which is that Juventus have not lost a single time in their last 20 matches against Bologna. It is certainly possible that they will not lose again, but we certainly do not expect them to win.
Without taking into account that the last five matches were draws, we expect a similar result again, simply because Bologna are phenomenal hosts and have conceded only one defeat in their 10 home matches this season in all competitions.
We should also mention that their last five matches have included goals from both teams, so BTTS definitely sounds like a great choice.
Think both sides will find the net? Our BTTS Masterclass explains how to spot the fixtures where goals are a given.
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