Bologna vs. Juventus: Final score 0-2, Rossoblù make Juve work

A 2-0 win sounds fairly routine, though Bologna certainly made Serie A's league leaders Juventus work for their three points. Goals at either end of the match from Arturo Vidal and Giorgio Chiellini were enough for the Old Lady to take victory, provisionally extending their lead at the top of the Serie A table to six points. Unfortunately for Bologna, their relegation concerns are still very real.

The visitors completely dominated the game right from the outset, with Mauricio Isla's dangerous low cross into the area after a couple of minutes setting the tone for an early bianconeri barrage. Fabio Quagliarella hit a trademark dipping effort from the edge of the box narrowly wide, with several Bolognese last-ditch tackles keeping the scores goalless. Unfortunately, they were only delaying the inevitable.

Inside a quarter of an hour Arturo Vidal celebrated his new contract by netting his sixth league goal of the season, springing Bologna's offside trap and poking the ball over goalkeeper Gianluca Curci from close range. The game was a defensive shambles from the hosts, with Juventus turning every spell in possession into a chance. Somehow, they didn't add to their opener in their early dominance.

As the half wore on Juve's intensity wore off, and Bologna managed to create some chances of their own -- unsurprisingly mainly through Alessandro Diamanti's set-pieces. He twice stung the palms of Gianluigi Buffon before delivering a lethal ball into the bianconeri box, though wing-back György Garics -- who has never scored more than one goal in a single season -- was reluctant to break the habit of a lifetime.

Into the second half Juventus still couldn't put the game to bed; Bologna proving to be rather more stubborn than earlier in the match. Substitute Fernando Llorente had a good opportunity from close range just past the hour, though Curci made a comfortable save. Kwadwo Asamoah momentarily though he'd scored his first goal this season with just over 20 minutes left, though he was correctly adjudged to have converted from an offside position.

Bologna struggled to create any chances to equalise, though managed to find a way though the Juventus defence out of nowhere a few minutes later. Jonathan Cristaldo burst into the box and fired towards goal, though dragged his shot agonisingly wide of Buffon's far post. Marchisio should've punished the hosts at the other end, though his shot went over the bar from inside the rossoblù box moments before Llorente was once again denied in a one-on-one.