First Team Match Report: JUVE-BOLOGNA

Following Juve’s trophy-winning match against Napoli, the Bianconeri return to Serie A to continue their chase for the tenth consecutive Scudetto. With Milan losing and Inter drawing, this was an important match to win in order to close the gap to the top of the table. With a goal from Arthur and another from McKennie, Juve are now 7 points behind with one game in hand.

4-4-2

#1- Szczesny

#16- Cuadrado

#19- Bonucci

#3- Chiellini

#13- Danilo

#33- Bernardeschi

#5- Arthur

#30- Bentancur

#14- McKennie

#44- Kulusevski

#7- Ronaldo

The Bianconeri had a good first half, dominating possession and creating plenty of chances. Though most of the play took place in Bologna’s side of the pitch, they played strong and were able to find chances against Juve as well. At the 15th minute, Ronaldo passes to Arthur, and he goes directly for a shot toward the left side of the goal. However, the ball takes a deflection and heads into the bottom right corner instead. Arthur gets his first goal with the Bianconeri, and Juve lead 1-0!

Just moments after, McKennie shows great physicality to provide Bernardeschi with a great through pass to score but the #33 chips it over the goal. Juventus continue to dominate, but the Bologna goalkeeper makes multiple great saves to deny the Bianconeri an early end to the game. Juve’s chance in the 28th minute in particular was a good one, when Ronaldo’s shot is saved, deflected toward Bernardeschi, whose second shot is blocked as well.

In the 32nd minute, Juve launch a counterattack where Cuadrado breaks into a run. However, he decides to go for goal himself and the shot goes wide. Bologna get a few chances as well and both sides hold on until the half-time break. The first half ends 1-0.

Juve almost get a disastrous start to the second half when Cuadrado’s attempt the clear the ball heads straight toward his own goal. Szczesny’s super reflexes save the Bianconeri, as he was able to tip the ball over the goal.

Bologna get more chances in the second half. In the 69th minute, Pirlo makes his first sub, switching Bernardeschi off for Morata. Just two minutes later, Juve get a corner and McKennie sends the ball flying into the net with a clean header. This is the American’s fourth goal of the season!

In the last minute of regular time, Ronaldo get a chance to go straight for goal by himself, but the keeper makes yet another great save. The match ends 2-0, the Bianconeri get the three points!

Pirlo:
“It was important to play with intensity and we did that well, particularly in the first half, when we created lots of chances. It was a good performance against a team that pressed us a lot, but we did well to find space. We came together after the San Siro match and looked at where we went wrong. We told ourselves that we’re a good side and that our destiny is in our own hands. We let them counter a few times, but that can happen when you attack with numbers. We should have taken better advantage of the many chances we created – that’s what irritates us more than anything.”

McKennie:

“Both Milan teams dropped points yesterday so it was important for us to win today and get some ground back, because it’ll be a race right up until the end. Getting forward has always been part of my game. I put a lot of running in and that means I can work some space for my team-mates to use.”

Solid game. As a whole the team performed well, and was able to constantly pressure the opponent. Once again however, with the chances Juve were getting in the first half, the players should have been more clinical/less selfish to bring the scoreline to a more comfortable one earlier in the match. Without Szczesny’s save for Cuadrado’s close own-goal, the game could have gone differently. Ronaldo was unlucky to not add another goal to his tally, as he had a few good chances. He also provided many chances to the team through assists, but most of these attempts were wasted. Arthur was essential this match not only for the goal but for his ability to keep possession. He rarely allows opponent players to dispossess him and this is important in building up a good flow to a match. Cuadrado, despite a couple of mistakes that could have costed the team, did well. His bursts of speed allow Juve to counter and adds liveliness into the team. Szczesny is a close MOTM for me once again, as he proved to be an incredibly reliable goalkeeper for the Bianconeri. However, the best player on the pitch today for me has to be McKennie, who not only scored yet another goal but proves himself to be a strong physical presence who never stops running. In all, this was a good match and a crucial one to win while other top teams of the league were unable to attain their three points. Like McKennie said, this will be a race right up until the end… fino alla fine.

MOTM: McKennie