Journalist Roberto Beccantini shared his thoughts on the 1-1 draw between Bologna and Juventus on his website, beckisback.it. Here are his comments:
“It felt like a playoff match, and both teams approached it with that intensity. The pace was so frantic, almost hysterical, making it difficult for players to maintain composure. It was relentless, pedal to the metal, resulting in a 1-1 scoreline. Juventus gained an early advantage in the 9th minute through Thuram, capitalising on a fumble by Skorupski. Bologna found their equalizer in the 54th minute during a goalmouth scramble, with Freuler applying the finishing touch after a deflection off Veiga.
The match was characterized by Italiano`s aggressive tactics and Tudor`s quick transitions. There was a strong claim for a penalty involving Freuler and McKennie. The refereeing seemed content to allow physical play. Other key incidents included a Cambiaso goal disallowed for offside (which would have made it 0-2, a moment reminiscent of Mkhitaryan) and a crucial last-ditch sliding tackle by Alberto Costa amidst the chaos that prevented what would have been the winning goal for Bologna.
Juventus was significantly weakened by injuries and even lost Cambiaso during the second half. Bologna also had players sidelined, like Holm and Ndoye, but they maintained their characteristic intense pressing throughout, though initially, Thuram, who was arguably the best player on the pitch, seemed to disrupt their rhythm with his own pressing. As the game progressed, Bologna`s key players like Cambiaghi, Ferguson (who came close to scoring late on), Orsolini, and Freuler (though not Odgaard) started to impose their preferred style: pure grit, physical battles, and attacks down the wings.
The search for a definitive centre-forward continues. Whether it`s Vlahovic or Kolo Muani, the role feels like an empty shell. This intense trial of a match was captivating. Juventus showed they are tough and irreducible, especially playing at the Dall’Ara stadium. For context, both Milan clubs lost there this season, Lazio suffered a heavy 5-0 defeat, and Napoli, despite coming back, certainly didn`t have an easy time either.
The limited game time given to players like Conceiçao and Douglas Luiz perhaps reflects the current situation and hints at market considerations. The race for a Champions League spot is tight: Juventus, Roma, and Lazio are on 63 points, while Bologna is close behind with 62. With only three rounds remaining, the upcoming fixtures are critical: Milan vs Bologna on Friday, Lazio vs Juventus on Saturday, and Atalanta vs Roma on Monday.”