Serie A: Bologna and Juventus in Battle for the Golden Ticket

Bologna vs Juventus

Fifth hosts fourth in the Serie A match of the weekend when Bologna will aim to leapfrog Juventus into the priceless Champions League places.

It promises to be an enthralling clash since this match pits together two in-form sides with big ambitions, and the Stadio Renato Dall’Ara will be a red-hot cauldron with the highest stakes to fight for. Just one point separates the two sides. Both have won 16 from 34 Serie A matches, though I Bianconeri have drawn 14 and lost four matches, while I Rossoblu have drawn 13 and lost five.      

Vincenzo Italiana’s Bologna come into the game on the back of a hard-earned 0-0 draw away to Udinese, while Igor Tudor’s Juventus beat Monza to retake that fourth place. The Old Lady will do all she can to keep her grip on the prize, while the hosts have all the tools they need to loosen that grip. The latest Serie A 2025 betting odds say we’re in for a real treat, so let’s take a closer look at the two squads as they prepare for Sunday’s showdown. 

 

Talking Points

Bologna fighting on two fronts

After putting in a superb campaign in 2023/24, I Rossoblu are doing their very best to keep on climbing with a top four place in sight and now, a first Coppa Italia final in 51 years when they will face AC Milan in the showcase on 14^th May.

A 2-1 win over Empoli took Bologna through to the final, and now the team must turn their attention back to Serie A. To win a trophy and a Champions League place would take Italiana’s team to the next level, and the combination of defencive organisation and fluid attacking has been reaping rewards.

Bologna’s Easter Day meeting with Inter Milan showed just how good this team is when a 94^th-minute strike from Riccardo Orsolini handed I Rossoblu all three points while denting I Nerazzurri’s title chances. Orsolini is top scoring with 12 league goals, and he has linked up superbly with the lively Thijs Dallinga, who scored the winner in Bologna’s semi-final cup win over Empoli.

And with two clean sheets from their last two games, the Rossoblu centre-back pairing of Sam Beukema and Jhon Lucumi will take some beating.

 

Yildiz out but Vlahovic hopeful for Juventus

To take on Bologna with a fully fit team is not the easiest task, but to do it without a key player or two makes it harder, and Tudor has a couple of headaches to deal with. Turkish winger Kenan Yildiz is suspended after he copped a red card halfway through Juve’s 2-0 win over Monza. He’ll be a miss on the flanks, and Tudor will shuffle his pack, with Douglas Luiz one option to step in.

There may be better Serie A 2025 news for the Old Lady from top scorer Dusan Vlahovic, who was substituted during Juve’s 1-0 loss away to Parma, and he missed the game with Monza with muscle fatigue. However, the Serbian striker is back in training and could be fit to join Randal Kolo Muani in attack.

But there is still no return for defender Federico Gatti, who has just signed a contract extension, and Lloyd Kelly, on loan from Newcastle United, is set to continue at centre-back.

The appointment of Tudor as manager has had the desired effect, and the win over Monza showed, even with 10 men, how he can set his team up to win, and the Old Lady will take some shifting from the fourth place.     

 

History

This relationship has been totally one-sided over the past 30 years with I Bianconeri winning 37 and losing just two of these encounters, while there have been 14 draws. But Bologna have matched Juve more recently with the last four meetings, all ending in a draw, including a 2-2 result when they met in Turin in December.       

Both teams come into the game in very decent form with three wins, two draws, and one defeat for Bologna compared with three wins, one draw, and two defeats for Juventus. 

Bologna have lost just once at home this season, winning 10 and drawing six, while Juventus have been fairly strong away from home with six wins, seven draws, and three defeats.

 

Betting Tip

This is a really tight game to call with Bologna the marginal favourites at a SBOTOP price of 2.44, Juventus at 2.68, and the draw is at 2.86.

Home advantage and a fully fit first 11 gives the hosts a slight advantage, but Bologna will have to be at their best to take it.

   

●●●

CHECK OUT OUR BLOG FOR MORE FOOTBALL STORIES & ODDS

Stay updated with everything sports and betting.

Follow us on social Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.