Socrates

Juventus lineup vs. Manchester City: Predicted XI for Champions League clash Set to welcome Manchester City to Turin on Wednesday evening, draw specialists Juventus will be seeking a first win in four Champions League matches. Like their Premier League counterparts, the Serie A giants have recently seen their treatment room overflowing with injured players, and many will still be missing in midweek. ............ In better news for Bianconeri boss Thiago Motta, his main marksman Dusan Vlahovic returned to the starting XI on Saturday, having missed almost a month with the thigh injury he picked up while representing Serbia. ............ Support for the hosts' lone striker is usually provided by Teun Koopmeiners, with Francisco Conceicao - who has completed 18 dribbles in four Champions League games this season - favourite to occupy the right flank. Motta must choose between Kenan Yildiz and a recently revived Timothy Weah to start on the left, and Juve's highly-rated head coach will also weigh up his options at full-back. Following a brief layoff, Nicolo Savona returned to action at the weekend, while former Man City defender Danilo and Italy international Andrea Cambiaso can play on either side - albeit the latter has suffered an ankle sprain and may miss out. ............ Juventus possible starting lineup: Perin; Savona, Kalulu, Gatti, Danilo; Locatelli, Thuram; Conceicao, Koopmeiners, Weah; Vlahovic . Read more -> https://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/man-city/champions-league/predicted-lineups/will-yildiz-return-to-mottas-xi-predicted-juventus-lineup-vsmanchester-city_560217.html?newsnow

UCL: referee for Manchester City clash sparks Juventus’ bitter memories UEFA have appointed French referee Clément Turpin for Juventus’ Champions League big clash against Manchester City. The Bianconeri will host the Premier League giants on Wednesday at the Allianz Stadium, and UEFA have decided to pick a profile with significant European experience to oversee the game. ............ The 42-year-old also evokes bad memories for the Bianconeri, as he was the referee of the second leg of the Champions League quarter-finals, which saw Ajax come back from behind at the Allianz Stadium to knock the Old Lady out of the competition. Before that, he crossed paths with Juventus in 2017, when they drew 1-1 against Sporting Lisbon in the group stage. ............ . Read more -> https://football-italia.net/ucl-referee-juventus-manchester-city/

Who will replace Cambiaso against Man City? Two options available Juventus coach Thiago Motta will reportedly have to choose between two solutions if Andrea Cambiaso fails to return in time for the clash against Manchester City. ............ Motta is forced to contemplate other solutions. Two options have surfaced to replace the versatile star if required. The first would be the direct swap witnessed on Saturday when Jonas Rouhi came in for his injured teammate. The 20-year-old Swede is a natural left-back, so he would fit seamlessly in this role, even though he’s yet to truly showcase his worth since earning a promotion to the first team. The alternative option would be switching Danilo to the left flank and bringing in Nicolo Savona at right-back. ............ . Read more -> https://www.juvefc.com/who-will-replace-cambiaso-against-man-city-two-options-available/

Two Juventus players recover from injury ahead of Man City clash Juventus have received a boost from the infirmary as Douglas Luiz and Weston McKennie should be available for the Champions League contest against Manchester City. Both clubs are enduring a torrid run amidst an injury crisis, but the Bianconeri will be desperate to gain points on the European stage where they haven’t won on the last three matchdays, leaving them lying in the mid-table. ............ For the Brazilian, this will be a special occasion since he had played for Manchester City U23 earlier in his career. The 26-year-old has been out of action since succumbing to injury during the warm-ups ahead of the Champions League contest against Stuttgart in October. ............ On the other hand, McKennie had another rollercoaster summer, as he started on the fringes before being restored to the squad after penning a new contract. The Texan then cemented himself as a regular starter in the middle of the park, and was even fielded as a makeshift centre-forward in his most recent outing against Milan, with Vlahovic unavailable. ............ . Read more -> https://www.juvefc.com/two-juventus-players-recover-from-injury-ahead-of-man-city-clash/

Juventus to increase Mbangula’s asking price ahead of possible January exit Samuel Mbangula emerged as the Juventus savior on Saturday with a late equalizer against Bologna that kept Thiago Motta’s winless run intact. ............ After the contest, Mbangula expressed his desire to score several more goals in the Bianconeri shirt, but the management might have other ideas. As reported earlier, Serie A giants identified the Belgian as one of the players to sacrifice in order to raise transfer funds. The hierarchy have already confirmed they’ll be after a new defender in January, while the arrival of a new striker cannot be completely ruled out. Mbangula has suitors in the Bundesliga, the Ligue 1 and possibly elsewhere. Therefore, Juventus could be ready to capitalize on the growing interest in the 20-year-old’s services to forge transfer funds. ............ Juventus had initially set the winger’s price at 10 million euros. However, his recent exploits in Bologna could drive the price up. ............ . Read more -> https://www.juvefc.com/juventus-to-increase-mbangulas-asking-price-ahead-of-possible-january-exit/

Arsenal willing to let Juventus target leave in January under a certain formula Juventus have been told what will be the right formula to lure Arsenal defender Jakub Kiwior to Turin. ............ The Serie A giants are currently being linked with a host of players, including the likes of PSG wantaway Milan Skriniar and Benfica youngster Antonio Silva. Nevertheless, Kiwior’s name continues to pop up, especially due to his old connection with Motta. The Polish defender served under the guidance of the Italian Brazilian manager during his time at Spezia, before making the move to Arsenal in January 2023. Sadly for the 24-year-old, he has yet to establish himself as a protagonist at the back for the Gunners, as he’s been facing stiff competition from a contingent of formidable defenders, namely Gabriel, William Saliba and Riccardo Calafiori. ............ According to journalist Niccolo Ceccarini, the Premier League giants could be willing to let Kiwior leave on loan with an option to buy that could become an obligation if certain objectives were to be met. ............ . Read more -> https://www.juvefc.com/report-arsenal-willing-to-let-juventus-target-leave-in-january-under-a-certain-formula/

Agent of Juventus Starlet Dismisses Buzz About His Exit Samuel Mbangula rescued Juventus against Bologna, resurfacing after a stretch when he hadn’t gotten many minutes. His agent Grace Diamoungana said: “His goal, which wasn’t his first one, allowed the team to stay undefeated. It’s the recognition for his serious, diligent, and quiet hard work. He can perform like this if he’s utilized well and with the help of his teammates.” ............ “I wish and request to stop spreading those rumors about his exit. He’s a youngster who needs to grow. He’s doing it silently. That kind of buzz isn’t pleasing and might have bothered him mentally. Plus, this is his first high-level experience. He’s very strong and has a good support system. He’s getting used to staying focused on his personal and team goals and ignoring everything else. I don’t know anything about his possible exit. I demand to nip this matter in the bud.” ............ . Read more -> https://cultofcalcio.com/agent-of-juventus-starlet-dismisses-buzz-about-his-exit/

Juventus vs. Manchester City: Head-to-head record and past meetings Juventus meet Manchester City in one of the standout games of matchday six in the Champions League on Wednesday. Both clubs have enjoyed unparalleled levels of success domestically over the last decade or so, but navigating their way through the Champions League has often proved tougher. ............ Head-to-head record Previous meetings: 6 Juventus wins: 3 Draws: 2 Man City wins: 1 Despite their recently-acquired riches, Man City have still often struggled to get the better of such an illustrious, successful club like Juve. ............ Runners-up to rivals Torino in Serie A, Juve were the strongest team in that season's competition, but they suffered an early scare, as Man City shrugged off their underdogs tag and beat the Italian giants 1-0 at Maine Road, with Brian Kidd scoring the only goal. With a team including the likes of Dino Zoff, Marco Tardelli and Claudio Gentile, managed by the legendary Giovanni Trapattoni, City were still up against it, and Juve flexed their muscles in the second leg. Goals in either half from Gaetano Scirea and Roberto Boninsegna turned the tie around, sent Juve through 2-1 on aggregate, and ultimately saw them win the UEFA Cup at the end of the season. ............ Under the guise of Massimiliano Allegri, Juve stunned the Etihad on matchday one, exactly 39 years to the day when they lost at Maine Road, with late goals from Mario Mandzukic and Alvaro Morata turning the game on its head after Giorgio Chiellini's own goal had put the hosts in front. Later in the section, City were already assured of progression when the sides met on matchday five, but Juve still needed a win, and that was handed to them courtesy of another goal from Mandzukic, which turned out to be the decisive moment. Previous meetings Nov 25, 2015: Juventus 1-0 Man City (Champions League Group Stage)Sep 15, 2015: Man City 1-2 Juventus (Champions League Group Stage)Dec 16, 2010: Juventus 1-1 Man City (Europa League Group Stage)Sep 30, 2010: Man City 1-1 Juventus (Europa League Group Stage)Sep 29, 1976: Juventus 2-0 Man City (UEFA Cup First Round Second Leg)Sep 15, 1976: Man City 1-0 Juventus (UEFA Cup First Round First Leg) Last 10 Champions League meetings Nov 25, 2015: Juventus 1-0 Man City (Group Stage)Sep 15, 2015: Man City 1-2 Juventus (Group Stage) . Read more -> https://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/man-city/head-to-head/juventus-vs-man-city-head-to-head-record-and-past-meetings_559993.html?newsnow

Juventus confirm Cambiaso suffered ankle strain – So what about Man City clash? Juventus have released an official update on the condition of Andrea Cambiaso who left the pitch while carrying a knock on Saturday. The 24-year-old worryingly fell to the ground during yesterday’s clash against Bologna which ended 2-2. He was seen clutching his ankle while in clear agony. The left-back tried to overcome the pain, but after a few minutes, he succumbed to injury, leaving the pitch with a disappointed look on his face, while Jonas Rouhi took his spot. “The tests revealed a modest capsular ligament strain of his left ankle. His condition will be monitored daily.” ............ This represents a sigh of relief for the club, as Cambiaso has averted a fracture which would have required more time on the sidelines. ............ The report believes the full-back is highly unlikely to make an immediate return to action and take part in Wednesday’s big Champions League showdown against Manchester City, much to Motta’s dismay. . Read more -> https://www.juvefc.com/juventus-confirm-cambiaso-suffered-ankle-strain-so-what-about-man-city-clash/

Righetti says Juventus played better after Motta was sent off Juventus faced a tough challenge last night against Bologna, conceding a goal almost immediately after manager Thiago Motta was sent off. The Bianconeri were desperate to win the game, as they were already falling behind in the Serie A title race. Unfortunately for them, Bologna scored their second goal shortly after the incident, putting Juve in a more precarious position. However, Juventus showed resilience and rallied late in the match, salvaging a 2-2 draw thanks to two goals, including a dramatic late strike by Samuel Mbangula. This performance, ironically, seemed to improve after Motta’s dismissal from the sidelines. Observers noted how the Juventus players thrived under less pressure without the constant influence of their manager. Ubaldo Righetti, a respected football pundit, commented on this dynamic. He said, “With the microphones off, did I say that Juve played better after Motta’s expulsion? It’s true, they didn’t feel the pressure from their coach. And also the position of some players, because at the beginning of the championship, Yildiz played as an attacking midfielder, more central, and Mbangula was a winger. Today they came in, they are fast, quick, motivated players, but Motta also plays on motivation, on this fact.” ............ “Motta is very well prepared, he is good, but it gives me the impression that sometimes he wants to show that his ideas are stronger than the players.” ............ . Read more -> https://www.juvefc.com/pundit-says-juventus-played-better-after-motta-was-sent-off/

“I’ve never seen a player get hurt blocking a shot” Juventus is unlucky states Pavan Massimo Pavan has spoken out about Juventus’ ongoing misfortune this season, using Andrea Cambiaso’s recent freak injury as an example of their struggles. The defender, who has been one of Juventus’ most reliable players, suffered the unexpected injury during the 2-2 draw against Bologna. Cambiaso was performing a routine defensive task, blocking a shot from a Bologna attacker, but the force of the shot appeared to be too much. He was unable to continue and was forced off the pitch, leaving Juventus to make an unplanned substitution. ............ Pavan, discussing the injury and Juventus’ season as a whole, expressed his frustration over the club’s struggles. He said, “Disgusting first half, we are ugly and unlucky, we don’t need proclamations but facts! We don’t need players or coaches who talk about nothing, but we need victories and points. From here on I’ll accept bad games too; we haven’t seen many good ones, but we need victories—in the league but also in the cup. It must be said that we are also unlucky. I’ve never seen a player get hurt blocking a shot.” ............ . Read more -> https://www.juvefc.com/ive-never-seen-a-player-get-hurt-blocking-a-shot-juventus-is-unlucky-states-pavan/

Del Piero predicts Scudetto winner, explains why Juventus “are in trouble” Juventus icon Alessandro Del Piero highlights a concerning sign for his beloved club, while revealing his Scudetto favorite. The legendary Bianconeri captain was at the Allianz Stadium on Saturday evening as Thiago Motta’s men rallied from behind to earn an unsatisfying draw against Bologna. ............ So while he applauded the players for their comeback, Del Piero feels that Juventus are in trouble as their opponents can now sense victory when playing against them. “They made a great comeback even if it came with a goal in the last minute, they were losing 2-0 at home,” said the 50-year-old during his post-match appearance. “They are in trouble, there are many absences, another injury today, a bad injury because Cambiaso is a great player for Juve. They are also in trouble because the teams are feeling comfortable playing against them, they believe they can win. “For Bologna, leaving here with a draw is a good result. The problem is that the other teams are not afraid and Thiago Motta must work on this aspect.” On another note, Del Piero admitted that Juventus are now unlikely to prevail in the Scudetto race as they continue to trail behind in sixth place. Hence, the 2006 World Cup winner believes Atalanta might have a golden chance at achieving their maiden league title. ............ “You know where my heart lies, to stay in theme with where we are (the Juventus Stadium). But to be honest, Atalanta are coming from nine consecutive victories, now they will face Real Madrid and have a chance to take an even higher step.” . Read more -> https://www.juvefc.com/del-piero-predicts-scudetto-winner-explains-why-juventus-are-in-trouble/

Juventus’ Koopmeiners: “Playing well for only 20 minutes is not enough” Teun Koopmeiners scored his first goal of the season for Juventus in their 2-2 draw against Bologna. Despite helping his team come back from a two-goal deficit, the Dutch midfielder expressed mixed feelings about the result in a post-match interview. On his positioning closer to Vlahovic, Koopmeiners said, “We need to find each other in these moments. Dusan is dangerous inside and outside the box, and I can also provide assists or score goals like today. We want to help the team.” ............ “Let’s say the team restarted in the last twenty minutes. We need to play the entire game like this and with more energy. We must pass the ball forward and press higher. The goal is to always play like this; twenty minutes are not enough. We need to control the match like this for ninety minutes; the responsibility lies with us players.” ............ “It’s difficult to say what’s missing to win. The energy we saw in the last twenty minutes must last the entire game. We’ve seen that it’s not enough. We must feel this responsibility; only then can we grow.” ............ “Honestly, I don’t feel happy about scoring. I play for the team, and winning is what’s important. I don’t just think about my goal.” . Read more -> https://www.footitalia.com/juventus-koopmeiners-playing-well-for-only-20-minutes-is-not-enough/

Juventus 2 - Bologna 2: Initial reaction and random observations Guess what? It’s another draw! For the second time in as many games, Juventus were one half of a one-goal lead going up in smoke thanks to a goal deep into second-half stoppage time. At least the second time around, they were the benefactors of that rather than what took place last weekend against Lecce. That feels like one of the only good things to come out of the first of four straight home games to be played in Turin. Samuel Mbangula’s 92nd-minute golazo saved Juventus from their first defeat of the season Saturday night at the Allianz Stadium. On a night in which Juventus were clearly the second-best side, Bologna was oh-so-close to claiming their first win in Turin against Juventus since the 2010-11 season. ............ The whistles Juventus players and coaches heard as they walked off the field at the end of the first half were very much a deserved sound. And it looked like those same whistles were pretty much on standby entering the final moments before Mbangula’s heroics that allowed Juventus to spoil what was all set up to be a big night in Turin for Bologna. If it wasn’t for Mbangula’s first goal since the opening weekend of the 2024-25 season, those whistles would have certainly appeared again. Same goes for Teun Koopmeiners (finally) scoring his first as a Juventus player just after the hour mark to give his team a chance. But still, it’s another draw. And it’s another performance from Thiago Motta’s squad that leaves a lot to be desired as a very, very important Champions League fixture awaits on the horizon. So, through Juve’s first 15 games in Serie A under Motta, they look like this: Six wins Nine draws ............ In those nine draws, Juventus have scored 10 goals. Take out the crazy 4-4 draw against Inter Milan back in late-October, and you’ve got six goals scored in eight draws. To go even further, we already know that four of Juve’s draws in Serie A have been of the scoreless variety, so on top of the inability to win on a consistent basis there’s also the inability to consistently score goals. This is why Juventus are sixth in the Serie A table despite being the only team in the league without a loss. They have shown to be their own worst enemy yet again this season, and as time goes on there’s only so much they can withstand before it becomes a major, major issue. Yet, as much as Juventus scoring goals has been an issue, it was simply Bologna completely throwing Motta’s squad off its axis. Bologna pressed like hell, they forced Juventus into stupid mistakes, and the 2-0 lead they had because of it was completely deserved. Juve looked all out of sorts, and — a lot like the game against Inter — they seemed destined to lose. ... and they didn’t. ............ RANDOM THOUGHTS AND OBSERVATIONS Of course when the injury situation gets a little bit better one of Juventus’ most important players in Cambiaso gets hurt all of six minutes into the next game. Yeah, it’s just been that kind of season on the injury front. When you consider how freaking hard Dan Ndoye hit that shot in which Cambiaso hurt his ankle, you can understand why he was in so much damn pain. That was an absolute bolt that seems pretty impossible to brace for no matter how hard you try. So now, unless Thiago Motta gets creative or Cambiaso can recover quickly, the only option to play at left back against Manchester City is probably going to be Jonas Rouhi — which, I have to say, is not a very encouraging thing based on how he’s looked in his small number of appearances this season. ............ I think it’s safe to say Motta earned that red card. Yep, no doubt about it. ............ Up until his assist to Mbangula on the tying goal, I was very much thinking “a day to forget” would have been apt for Dusan Vlahovic as well. I get that he’s just back from injury, but the individual numbers Vlahovic put up were not kind. Most notable of them all: his assist to Mbangula was just his 10th completed pass the entire night. Not great. ............ Boy is it nice to see one of those runs into the box down the center channel finally pay off in a goal for Koopmeiners. We’ve seen him be very unlucky in those situations so far this season, so hopefully him scoring and actually having it stand is the thing that kicks him off and gets him rolling. That sure would be nice considering how up and down Juve’s attack has been, Speaking of Koopmeiners, seeing him drop deeper after the first set of Juve substitutions certainly had to be something a lot of folks have been wanting to see. It also allowed Kenan Yildiz to play a little more centrally and have the floating No. 10 role that he had earlier this season as Koopmeiners was still waiting on his move to Turin to be finalized. An underappreciated aspect of the Koopmeiners goal: Francisco Conceição getting the double team that allowed Danilo to have plenty of room on the overlapping run to get a cross off. And he put it right on the money to a wide-open Koopmeiners. ............ There were seven yellow cards shown in this one and at times it felt like twice that amount. ............ So, after all of that, Juventus and Bologna finished with 10 shots apiece. Wouldn’t have guessed that one. . Read more -> https://www.blackwhitereadallover.com/2024/12/7/24315583/juventus-bologna-2024-serie-a-matchday-15-final-score-result-initial-reaction-random-observations

“Officially out of the fight” Santarelli reacts to Juventus draw against Bologna Juventus suffered a setback in their Serie A campaign after being held to a 2-2 draw against Bologna, a result that significantly impacted their chances of winning the Scudetto. Thiago Motta’s team entered the match knowing that anything less than a victory would damage their title hopes. ............ Juventus faced additional challenges as Motta was sent off during the match, leaving the team to rally without him. Despite showing resilience to level the score and preserve their unbeaten run, the draw felt more like a missed opportunity than a positive outcome. ............ The frustration surrounding the team’s performance was palpable, with Alessandro Santarelli, a pundit analysing the game, voicing his disappointment: “I’m very angry, because you don’t get anywhere with draws. A draw is better than a defeat, but is a draw good or bad? You can’t afford to draw certain games. Lots of mistakes this evening, even from the coach. I’m disappointed with the team this evening. Mbangula scored a beautiful goal, but you won’t get far like this. Motta must realize that. Juve is officially out of the fight for the Scudetto today. The sporting director must also intervene, and make the coach understand that some technical choices aren’t good. I expected to be at a different point on December 7th.” ............ . Read more -> https://www.juvefc.com/officially-out-of-the-fight-pundit-reacts-to-juventus-draw-against-bologna/

Thiago Motta: ‘The red card? I went too far with my complaints’ Juventus head coach Thiago Motta addressed the media following his team’s match against Bologna, which ended in a dramatic comeback for the Bianconeri. The game, which took place in Turin, saw Juventus trailing 2-0 before mounting a spirited fightback to salvage a draw. ............ The manager also addressed his own dismissal during the match, taking responsibility for his actions: “What happened with Marchetti? He was right to send me off. I got angry and made a gesture that I should have avoided. I went overboard with my complaints.” ............ “Manchester City? I think there’s no better time to face City. There’s no better moment to take on a team of that caliber.” . Read more -> https://www.footitalia.com/thiago-motta-the-red-card-i-went-too-far-with-my-complaints/

Player ratings: Juventus 2-2 Bologna – Koopmeiners inspires Bianconeri fight Juventus left it late to rescue a point at home against Bologna in an eventual 2-2 draw in Serie A on Saturday evening. Teun Koopmeiners got his first goal ini Juventus colours, despite coach Thiago Motta being sent to the stands a quarter of an hour earlier. ............ Juventus player ratings Perin 6; Danilo 6.5, Gatti 5 (Savona 6), Kalulu 5, Cambiaso n/a (Rouhi 5); Locatelli 6 (Thuram 6), Fagioli 6 (Yildiz 6); Conceicao 6.5, Koopmeiners 7, Weah 6 (Mbangula 7); Vlahovic 6. Best Juventus player: Koopmeiners 7 – It’s taken 15 appearances, but the €50m summer signing finally has his first goal in Bianconeri colours. He held up his run well and was open in acres of space when he latched onto Danilo’s low cross in the area. The Dutchman tried his best to get the stadium going after halving his side’s deficit, and Juventus did look an improved side in the final 30 minutes of proceedings. That improvement was confirmed with Mbangula’s fine equaliser in injury time. Coach: Thiago Motta 4.5 – Headloss. The Juventus coach had been warned in the first half, but couldn’t keep himself in check before being sent off six minutes into the second period. A temporarily disorganised Juventus then fell two goals behind shortly after the coach’s dismissal. That said, Juventus looked vastly improved after going two goals behind, and were threatening with their attacking play in the second portion of the second half. ............ Bologna player ratings Skorupski 6; Holm 7 (Posch n/a), Beukema 6, Lucumi 6, Miranda 6; Freuler 6.5, Pobega 7 (Moro 5.5); Ndoye 8, Odgaard 6.5 (Fabbian 6), Dominguez 6.5 (Iling-Jr n/a); Castro 7 (Dallinga 5). Best Bologna player: Ndoye 8 ............ . Read more -> https://football-italia.net/player-ratings-juventus-2-2-bologna-ndoye/

Mbangula saves Juventus unbeaten record with late stunner against Bologna. Juventus played out a 2-2 draw against Bologna this evening, salvaging a point with a late equaliser. Thiago Motta faced his former club for the first time since leaving them in the summer, and Juventus knew this encounter could be one of their toughest tests yet. ............ The men in black and white found themselves in trouble almost immediately after the game began, as Dan Ndoye rattled the crossbar with an early effort. Juve also suffered an early blow when Andrea Cambiaso was forced off due to injury. Shortly afterwards, Ndoye silenced the Juve fans with a superb opening goal. ............ Bologna started the second half on the front foot, and just six minutes in, Thiago Motta was sent off. This incident seemed to energise Bologna, who soon doubled their lead. Despite trailing, Juventus pressed forward relentlessly. Their efforts were eventually rewarded when Teun Koopmeiners pulled one back for the Bianconeri. ............ Bologna’s defence held firm as Samuel Mbangula and Nicolo Savona also joined the fray for Juventus in the closing stages. The substitutions paid off in dramatic fashion. Mbangula struck a stunning equalizer in the first minute of added time, embodying the club’s motto “fino alla fine”—until the end. . Read more -> https://www.juvefc.com/mbangula-saves-juventus-unbeaten-record-with-late-stunner-against-bologna/

Fagioli pensa ad altro

Come corrono sti bolognesi

Gol preso da polli

Oddio, si scalda Rouhi

Juventus vs. Bologna match preview It’s May 20, 2024. It’s a rainy night in Bologna, and Juventus are rolling into town fresh off a Coppa Italia win but also without the manager who helped them win it. Instead, there’s a caretaker manager for the first time in a long time on the Juventus sideline, with the man who everybody expects to become the next full-time boss just a short distance away on the Bologna bench. It proved to be a wild night in the rain, with Juve going down 3-0 only to score three goals within 14 minutes to pull even and provide one last bit of last-season fireworks during a five-month run that was very much ... not that. Fast forward to this weekend and many of the major players in that late-May matchup in Bologna are now somewhere else. But one of the main protagonists will be on the sidelines once again — albeit on the one who calls Allianz Stadium home rather than when he was at the Dall’Ara. Saturday night in Turin will be the first time Thiago Motta faces Bologna since his summer move to Juventus, with both teams looking very, very different compared to when they took part in the six-goal thriller that had Paolo Montero sprinting down the sideline as he celebrated the final two goals of the night. ............ The good news is that the injury crisis has met a bit of a reprieve, with three players who missed the draw with Lecce — most notably Dusan Vlahovic — back in the fold to face Bologna, Motta said at his pre-match press conference. That does, on paper, make you believe that Juve’s attack will be more dangerous than it has been over the last few weeks as Vlahovic dealt with the muscle injury he picked up on international duty. But just because Vlahovic is back doesn’t necessarily mean everything is fixed. Juventus are a team that still very much is a work in progress, and with Motta being forced to work with limited options over the last few weeks, the injury situation has not eased the frustrations of a team that enters Saturday night with more draws (8) than wins (6) in Serie A so far this season. Four of Juventus’ last six Serie A fixtures have ended in draws. ............ Bologna entered Matchday 15 sitting in eighth place, five points behind Juventus. Just like when Juventus took on Lecce six days earlier, Saturday night’s matchup against Bologna has us asking the question of “Is this the day when Juve’s streak of draws comes to an end?” While we don’t know the question to that just yet, there’s one thing that’s for certain: if they continue to stack up draws one after another, it’s going to continue to put stress on the situation no matter the current status of those who are injured. Juventus need a win over Bologna for a variety of reasons, but the biggest might be just to feel that winning happiness once again. ............ TEAM NEWS I know it’s hard to believe considering what the last couple of weeks have been like, but Juventus actually received some good injury news this week. That included Dusan Vlahovic returning to full training with the squad on Wednesday and is going to be back in the matchday squad, according to Motta at his pre-match press conference. Another Juve attacker, teenager Vasilije Adžić, also returned to training this week. The final player back from injury and available to face Bologna is fullback Nicolo Savona, who was forced to come off injured in Juve’s Champions League draw against Aston Villa. That means Juventus’ injury list has gone down from nine to six players. They are: Gleison Bremer, Juan Cabal, Nico Gonzalez, Arek Milik, Douglas Luiz and Weston McKennie. Motta said that Juve youth sector players Diego Pugno, Augusto Owusu, Filippo Pagnucco and Niccolo Rizzo will also be called up to face Bologna on Saturday. ............ JUVENTUS PLAYER TO WATCH Well, Juventus actually has a No. 9 to play up front again. And, wouldn’t you know, it’s the guy who actually wears No. 9 on the back of his jersey. So, while so much of the conversation the last three games has been about what Juventus hasn’t been able to do without somebody like him out there, let’s talk about him coming back. Yep, it’s time to talk Dusan again. Obviously. ............ So now, as Juve look to actually get three points. If anything, simply having somebody like Vlahovic and his big frame up front rather than somebody shoehorned in there like Koopmeiners or Weah should help Juventus’ attack. That’s just the line of thinking, though. We know from this season and years past, just because Vlahovic is there it doesn’t always equate to goals being scored. If he isn’t seeing much of the ball or very much isolated for a variety of reasons. Even though we haven’t reached the midway point of the 2024-25 season, Bologna’s defense has already hit half the number of goals allowed (16) as they did a year ago under Motta (32). So, even though he is not facing a very vulnerable defense like Juve matched up against last weekend in Lecce, Bologna have proven to be susceptible to goals being scored against them. ............ MATCH INFO When: Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024. Where: Allianz Stadium, Turin, Italy. Official kickoff time: 6 p.m. in Italy and the Central European time zone, 5 p.m. in the United Kingdom, 12 p.m. Eastern time, 9 a.m. Pacific time. . Read more -> https://www.blackwhitereadallover.com/2024/12/7/24310856/juventus-bologna-2024-serie-a-matchday-15-preview-team-news-schedule-how-to-watch