Preview: Juventus vs. Bologna - prediction, team news, lineups

Juve's three-goal victory in Udine suggested brighter times could be ahead following a series of woes both on and off the pitch; their visitors, meanwhile, were well beaten by Milan on Monday.

Match preview

Keen to make up for time lost to injury and subsequent fitness issues, Federico Chiesa struck the first goal of his team's 2023-24 campaign within just two minutes of kickoff, setting the tone for a 3-0 win over Udinese.

Dusan Vlahovic soon doubled Juve's advantage from the penalty spot, before Adrien Rabiot rolled over last season's goalscoring form by netting the third in first-half stoppage time.

Another clean sheet will certainly please pragmatic head coach Max Allegri - who incidentally celebrated his 250th win across two spells as Juventus manager - after his team kept no less than 20 in the league last season.

Stripped of a Europa Conference League place by virtue of a year-long ban from UEFA competition, the Bianconeri are seeking a sustained Scudetto challenge and victory in the Coppa Italia this season, without the 'distraction' of European football.

While the Old Lady's peers tune up for various group stage campaigns - set to commence after the upcoming international break - Juve will be focused solely on securing six points from their next two outings: after hosting Bologna, they visit Empoli next week.

Having gone unbeaten in their last 22 Serie A matches against Bologna - winning on 17 occasions - Juventus are expected to prevail again this weekend, when they aim to rekindle the hope of their frustrated home fans.

Such has been Bologna's tale of woe when faced with the might of Juventus, they may well be fearing the worst ahead of their latest trip to Turin.

The Rossoblu have won just one of their last 41 top-flight fixtures against their Bianconeri counterparts, and none since February 2011, when current sporting director Marco Di Vaio bagged a brace.

Di Vaio and his colleague, Bologna boss Thiago Motta, saw their side beaten 2-0 by Milan in Monday night's Serie A season opener, with the home team unable to make much impact on a new-look Rossoneri at Stadio Dall'Ara. As a result, the Emilian club could now lose their first two league games for the first time in eight years.

Having taken over just a few weeks into last season, Motta gained plenty of admirers for his team's approach en route to a commendable top-half finish, and the next step would be contending for European qualification.

Without recently departed striker Marko Arnautovic - who made his final Bologna appearance in a Coppa Italia win over Cesena earlier this month - Motta's men may find that a bridge too far. If they are to mount an improbable push for the top six, though, taking points off Juventus would be a good place to start.

Juventus Serie A form:

Bologna Serie A form:

Bologna form (all competitions):

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Team News

Max Allegri is expected to name the same starting XI that fared so well on the opening day, with Dusan Vlahovic and Federico Chiesa once again paired up front.

Bologna are perhaps Chiesa's favourite opponent in Serie A, as he has scored six league goals against them to date, including his only hat-trick.

Paul Pogba's latest return from injury could be completed with an appearance from the bench, as only long-term absentee Mattia De Sciglio misses out.

Meanwhile, Bologna goalkeeper Lukasz Skorupski should make his 250th Serie A appearance on Sunday, becoming the second Polish player to reach such a milestone this century, after Piotr Zielinski (336).

He is set to start behind a back four missing Adama Soumaoro, who could be sidelined until 2024 by a knee injury, while Gambian forward Musa Barrow is a doubt for the trip to Turin.

With Marko Arnautovic now wearing an Inter jersey, Joshua Zirkzee should lead the visitors' front line, though Dutch compatriot Sydney van Hooijdonk is also a contender following his impressive loan spell at Heerenveen last term.

Juventus possible starting lineup:

Szczesny; Danilo, Bremer, Sandro; Weah, Miretti, Locatelli, Rabiot, Cambiaso; Chiesa, Vlahovic

Bologna possible starting lineup:

Skorupski; Posch, Beukema, Lucumi, Lykogiannis; Dominguez, Aebischer; Orsolini, Ferguson, Ndoye; Zirkzee

We say: Juventus 2-0 Bologna

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