Juventus strengthen grip on top four with comfortable win over Bologna

Juventus are closing in on a Champions League spot

Juventus secured a third successive victory with a clean sheet, as a headed goal in each half saw off Bologna 2-0 at home to strengthen their top four credentials and inflict a first Serie A loss in three on the RossoblF9, denting their European hopes.

Bologna had not conceded before half time in any of their previous nine games on the road, but tonight, Juve broke the deadlock after just 90 seconds.

As it was already the third time they had put pressure on Bologna inside their area, it was no exaggeration to say the goal was coming – and come it did when0Francisco Conceicao laid the ball back to Pierre Kalulu, whose cross was glanced in by Jonathan David.

The home side thought they had doubled their lead 10 minutes later, only for Conceicao to see his cool finish chalked off for offside, before the Portuguese was played through again midway through the half, but this time he was denied by Federico Ravaglia’s save.

The Old Lady kept the pressure on and were inches away from a second in the 34th minute, when a centre was half-cleared to the edge of the box, where0Emil Holm connected with a ferocious half-volley which clattered against the crossbar.

Match stats

Shortly before half time, the dynamic Conceicao slipped a through ball into David, but this time the Canadian flashed his shot across goal and wide, as Bologna went into the break still in the contest, despite a Tommaso Pobega strike from range going wide their only effort of note in the first 45 minutes.

Riccardo Orsolini fizzing an effort wide soon after the restart made the visitors more closely resemble the side that had found the net in their previous 14 away games.

But the Bianconeri were soon back in control, and finally put daylight between the sides 12 minutes into the half, when a sustained period of pressure resulted in substitute0Khephren Thuram heading in Weston McKennie’s cross.

Five minutes later, Bologna missed a great chance to reduce the deficit when Nadir Zortea’s low ball across was slammed against the post by Jonathan Rowe.

The final quarter of the match was light on goalmouth action as Juve cruised to victory, as Luciano Spalletti celebrated his two-year contract extension with his side extending their unbeaten run in all competitions to eight games.

Bologna missed the chance to win five successive away games, though it was hardly a surprise their run ended here, given they are now winless in 30 H2H meetings.