Juve extend their unbeaten run — two goals vs Bologna put them on the brink of Champions League

It was February 21 when Juventus played against Como and suffered a defeat. Now, almost two months later, Luciano Spalletti’s side has put together a run of seven matches with five wins and two draws. Today, they added an eighth, moving five points clear of the aforementioned Como and putting themselves in an excellent position heading into the final stretch of the season.

The hosts struck almost immediately, opening the scoring in just the 2nd minute. A cross to the back post was cleverly knocked back into the danger area by Kelly, allowing the move to continue. Conceicao kept the ball alive near the corner flag before Kalulu delivered a cross from the right, and Jonathan David was on hand to glance a header in from close range to make it 1–0.

Juventus thought they had doubled their lead in the 12th minute when Conceicao ran onto a long ball and calmly finished one-on-one past Ravaglia, but the goal was ruled out for offside.

Conceicao remained a constant threat, and in the 23rd minute he once again burst down the right and went through on goal, only for Ravaglia to produce an excellent save, making himself big in the one-on-one situation.

Juventus came close again in the 33rd minute in spectacular fashion. After a clearance fell to Emil Holm on the edge of the box, he struck a powerful volley that crashed against the underside of the crossbar — inches away from doubling the lead.

Bologna had their moment in the 38th minute, when a dangerous cross flashed across the face of goal. Castro cleverly stepped over the ball, but there was no one at the back post to apply the finishing touch.

Right before halftime, Juventus nearly found a second goal. Conceicao slipped a perfectly timed through ball to David, who beat the offside trap and fired an angled shot that skimmed the far post.

Bologna threatened early after the restart, with their first real chance arriving in the 47th minute. Orsolini made a strong run down the right and fired an angled shot that flashed just wide of the far post — a warning sign for Juventus.

However, the hosts responded in the best possible way in the 57th minute, doubling their lead. Much like the opening goal, it came after a sustained attacking sequence. Locatelli’s initial strike was blocked, but Juventus kept the move alive, and McKennie delivered a cross from the right that was perfectly met by Thuram, who headed in at the back post for 2–0.

Bologna refused to give up and nearly pulled one back in the 63rd minute. Orsolini was again involved, driving down the right and sending a low ball across goal. Rowe slid in at the back post from point-blank range, but could only hit the upright — a huge let-off for Juventus.

The visitors continued to search for a goal, and in the 83rd minute Moro had a decent opportunity from the edge of the box, but his effort sailed just over the crossbar.

In the end, Juventus managed the second half well, taking their chances and controlling the tempo, while Bologna were left to rue missed opportunities as the game slipped away from them.

SERIE A - MATCHDAY 33

Friday

Sassuolo - Como 2-1 (2-1)

/Volpato 42, Nzola 44 - Paz 45+2/

Inter - Cagliari 3-0 (0-0)

/Thuram 52, Barella 56, Zielinski 90+2/

Saturday

Udinese - Parma 0-1 (0-0)

/Elphege 51/

Napoli - Lazio 0-2 (0-1)

/Cancellieri 6, Basic 57/

Roma - Atalanta 1-1 (1-1)

/Hermoso 45 - Krstovic 12/

Sunday

Cremonese - Torino 0-0

Verona - Milan 0-1 (0-1)

/Rabiot 41/

Pisa - Genoa 1-2 (1-1)

/Canestrelli 19 - Ekhator 41, Colombo 55 pen/

Juventus - Bologna 2-0 (1-0)

/David 2, Thuram 57/

Monday

21.45: (3.40) Lecce (3.30) Fiorentina (2.20)

***odds are subject to change***