It’s been a difficult season for Juventus. Nothing’s gone right in the league, with thrown away points piling up, disappointing results mounting, and frustration levels rising to an all-time high. Thanks to a poor performance against Napoli last weekend, Juventus already have as many losses in the six matches they’ve played in this Serie A campaign as they did all last season. While they’re perfect in the Champions League, that doesn’t help their lowly 15th place standing in Italy one tiny bit, and that needs to be improved fast before phrases like “lost season” start getting thrown around in Turin.
Juventus vs. Bologna 2015 live stream: Start time, TV schedule and how to watch online
Can Juventus finally get their second Serie A win?
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That desperation creates an opportunity for Bologna, who are searching for their second win in the league this season themselves. Things haven’t been going smoothly at all for the rossoblu in their return to Serie A, and the pressure is mounting for them as well with the losses piling up. But with Juventus arguably having even greater levels of desperation to get a win, that could allow Bologna to sneak in and steal a point or three in this match -- if they execute their gameplan, a factor that’s been a huge problem for Delio Rissi’s side at times this season.
Key player -- Paul Pogba (Juventus)
It’s simple: as goes Pogba, so goes Juventus. When the dynamic Frenchman is engaged and interested in a match, Juventus win. The trouble is, that hasn’t consistently been the case this season, and that’s been reflected in their record. Max Allegri needs to make sure his biggest star is running the show like he’s capable of, or else Juventus could be in a heap of trouble yet again.
Key Matchup -- Leonardo Bonucci (Juventus) vs. Mattia Destro (Bologna)
Destro has yet to get on the scoresheet this season thanks in part to Bologna’s struggles to create a consistent attacking threat, but he has generally played well. He has an opportunity to face off with Bonucci in this match, who has struggled against strikers with that high-workrate-poacher style Destro generally plays with, so perhaps the star of the man who used to be Italy’s brightest attacking prospect could begin to rise again.
Juventus injuries and suspensions
Out: Stephan Lichtsteiner (heart), Martin Caceres (suspended), Claudio Marchisio (thigh), Mario Mandzukic (thigh) In doubt: Stefano Sturaro (calf)
Bologna injuries and suspensions
Out: Emmanuel Giaccherini (thigh), Saphir Taider (tonsillitis), Godfred Donsah (thigh), Franco Zuculini (knee), Emil Krafth (hamstring)
Juventus are slowly getting healthier, but an arrhythmia issue for Stephan Lichtsteiner and Martin Caceres getting suspended for drinking and crashing his Ferrari doesn’t help them any. Bologna are pretty beat up as well, with two of their best attackers and two key midfielders out, along with their top right back. Scraping together enough talent to hang with Juventus might be tough in this one.
Match Date/Time: Sunday, 12 p.m. ET, 6 p.m. local
Venue: Juventus Stadium, Turin, Italy
TV: beIN Sports (U.S. & Canada), Sky Calcio 1, Sky Sport 1 HD Italia (Italy), BT Sport 2 (U.K.), RAI International
Online: Fubo TV, beIN Sports Connect (U.S. & Canada), Sky Go Italia (Italy)
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