Alberto Zaccheroni’s Juventus must defeat Bologna to prove they are at long last back on the right track in Serie A.

The relief was clear to see on the faces of club stalwarts Gigi Buffon and Alessandro Del Piero when Juve battled back to defeat Genoa 3-2 in Turin last week. It was a hugely significant win – Zaccheroni’s first since he replaced Ciro Ferrara in the Bianconeri hot-seat and only the second in two months of League action for the club.

Nonetheless even the staunchest Juve fanatic would admit their side was fortunate against Genoa. The team didn’t look particularly comfortable with Zaccheroni’s new 3-4-1-2 system and only came out on top thanks to a non existent penalty won and converted by Del Piero.

On the other hand the fighting spirit displayed by the players and the end of Amauri’s seemingly eternal goal drought are reasons for encouragement. Juve are now 6th, one point off fourth place and Champions League qualification, which can be their only realistic goal this season.

Hosts Bologna are in excellent form and well on their way to mid-table having climbed out of the relegation zone, but they will have to face Juventus without their captain and most potent weapon in the form of Marco Di Vaio.

Former Juve striker Di Vaio picked up an injury in the relegation dogfight with Livorno last week, having already scored the precious goal that gave the Rossoblu their 1-0 win. His absence could prompt a recall for another ex-Bianconero – Marcelo Zalayeta.

Coach Franco Colomba will fancy the chances of another giant killing since his charges have beaten Fiorentina and drawn with Milan in recent times. Under his predecessor Giuseppe Papadopulo the Felsinei held the Old Lady to a 1-1 draw in September’s reverse fixture, Martins Adailton hitting a dramatic late equaliser.

Massimo Mutarelli, Andrea Pisanu and Francesco Modesto accompany Di Vaio on Bologna’s injury list. Salvatore Lanna is suspended.

Juve’s injury crisis has eased, although key striker Vincenzo Iaquinta remains unavailable. Fabio Cannavaro is a doubt, while Christian Poulsen is not likely to be back until March.

Keep an eye on: Alessandro Del Piero (Juventus) – The captain has come under fire for the ease with which he tumbled to the ground to win the decisive penalty against Genoa, but more attention should have been paid to his first goal, a wonderful individual effort that began with a hearty slide tackle on Mimmo Criscito that Fabio Cannavaro would have been proud of.

Last five in Serie A: Bologna (D W D D W) Juventus (L L D D W)

Last season: Bologna 1-2 Juventus

Bologna (probable): Viviano; Raggi, Portanova, Moras, Zenoni; Busce, Mudingayi, Guana, Casarini; Gimenez, Zalayeta

Juventus (probable): Buffon; Cannavaro, Legrottaglie, Chiellini; Caceres, Marchisio, Sissoko, De Ceglie; Diego; Amauri, Del Piero

Ref: To follow...

It's simple, we have to keep winning and picking up as many points as possible to try to finish 4th, or maybe 3rd at a push.

We have some extremely tough away games after this so really need to take maximum points here.

(3-4-1-2)


Bench: Manninger, Cannavaro, Grosso, Sissoko, Camoranesi, Trezeguet

http://www.atdhe.net/13778/watch-bologna-vs-juventus

Group hug for Bologna lol.

ESPN coverage is so shit, they don't start coverage of this game until 30' because they have the Blackburn-Bolton after match crap, laughable.

http://iraqgoals.net/6347-bologna-fc-vs-juventus-.html

Diegoooooooooooooooool

Diego with a great run through the defence, shot saved, falls to Amauri whose shot is also blocked by the keeper and Diego nets the rebound.

Great start!

De Ceglie with a great run, horrible scythed down when through but no yellow card, it was a clear yellow......

1st goal fro JUVE. from Diego min.5
click here for the video

Bologna look a confident team, you can see they have been in good form, but Juve have played very well so far.

Zalayeta with a half chance for Bologna, but it was very difficult. The closest they have come.

Marchisio shot and good save from Viviano, it falls to Diego from a tight angle but Viviano saves again!

http://www.atdhe.net/13779/watch-bologna-vs-juventus

chance for JUVE. min.25
click here for the video

Melo makes a stupid handball from a cross right on the edge of the box, dangerous freekick here.

Adailton off the post! Great freekick, Buffon had no chance.

FK. for Bologna in the bar min.35
click here for the video

Bologna nearly score right at the end of the half, Guana misses from the edge of the box.

That was their only chance in open play, a bit of luck with the freekick off the bar, but Juve played well in that first half and the effort is clear to see. We maybe could have had a second goal but 0-1 is about fair for now.

Second half starts.

Bologna have scored, good ball to the back post and Busce scrambles it in. Bollocks, we looked ok as well.

He got lucky there, the cross hit the post and hit his leg accidentally and went in, but good ball in.

We have started to sit back a bit too much, Bologna are there for the taking in defence.

1st goal for Bologna from Buscé min.50
click here for the video

Sissoko on for Marchisio.

Bologna look quite happy to close Juve down and counter now.

Candreva on for Diego

What a horrible sub

Get Brazzo off FFS

WTF, Serie A has to be our priority, resting Diego for Ajax, prat.

Candrevaaaaaaaa

How the hell did Gimenez miss before? Open goal. From 2-1 to 1-2.

Zac is a tactical genius

Wow this stream is like 4 minutes behind the game, shite.

LOL.

We were so lucky before that second goal.

chance for Bologna min.63
click here for the video

2nd goal for JUVE. from Candreva min.66
click here for the video

Candreva had like 2 goals his whole Livorno career lol.

Siena - Napoli going Juve's way too atm.

Melo is starting to look like a hell of a player in a tighter tactical system.

Here we go with the sitting back tactics, like Ranieri all over again

Candreva was clear on the left but Viviano blocked, great chance to seal it

Feck, if he had just been a bit calmer it was an open goal.

I'd take Del Piero off for the end, put Gio on, but I'll leave it to the master tactician to decide.

Mingazzini for Mudingayi for Rossoblu.

How was that a foul by Alex?

Camoranesi is coming on.

Camo for Alex.

The Bologna fans loudly jeer, so Alex takes ages going off and stops to applaud the Juve fans lol.

Right at Buffon there, good chance!

We are playing in 1st gear, need to wake up here.

Sissoko is a useless lump in this form, he's made of teflon.