Bologna vs Juventus live on May 23, 2021: Can the Old Lady secure a top-four finish on the final day?

May 22, 2021 By Ali M.

Topics: TV Schedules, Bologna, Juventus, Serie A

The fifth-placed Bianconeri look to snatch a UEFA Champions League berth on the final day but will need a few other results to go their way.

Preview

Juventus are gearing up for their final game of the 2020/21 Serie A season, a do-or-die trip to Bologna on Sunday. The Bianconeri will visit the Stadio Renato Dall'Ara for this 2:45 p.m. ET clash fully knowing that their UEFA Champions League hopes rest on this curtain closer.

Missing out on a top-four finish seemed impossible at the start of the season, but after a torrid campaign for Pirlo's side, the Italian giants are in huge risk of failing to qualify for next season's UCL. Only the top four in the Italian championship make UEFA's premier competition, but with Cristiano and Co. sitting in fifth, a Europa League berth appears to be on the horizon.

However, it's not done and dusted just yet. AC Milan are in third and Napoli sit in fourth, but the Old Lady's two rivals sit a mere point ahead. This means victory on Sunday, accompanied by a few favorable results elsewhere, would see Juventus assume their spot in Europe's prestigious club competition.

The Rossoneri take on second-placed Atalanta and are thus the likelier of the two to slip up. Napoli, similar to Juventus, will be facing a mid-table side on Matchday 38 and should see out this fixture as a result. However, none of this will matter if Pirlo's men fail to win.

A draw would not suffice due to Serie A tiebreaker rules. Should AC Milan lose against Atalanta and Cristiano and Co. draw, the two Italian giants would be level on points. Regardless, this won't matter as the first two tiebreakers in the Italian top-flight are the head-to-head points and head-to-head goal difference, which the Rossoneri lead.

As for Napoli and Juventus, no side has a head-to-head advantage this term, with both teams winning once in their two encounters by a one-goal margin. However, Gli Azzurri boast an overall superior goal difference (45) over the Old Lady (36) and would thus beat the Bianconeri to a Champions League spot if they finish the campaign level on points.

Fortunately, form favors the visitors, with Pirlo's side winning their last three outings in a row. Nonetheless, the 3-0 defeat against Milan, the 1-1 draw with Fiorentina, and the 1-0 loss to Atalanta have not been forgotten. Bologna have picked up only one win in their last nine outings, but if Juventus put in the sloppy displays that have plagued their season, then the Italian giants could be condemned to a season in the UEFA Europa League.

Team news

Bologna: Mitchell Dijks and Roberto Soriano are suspended. Matthias Svanberg is unlikely to feature due to a shoulder issue. Long-term absentees Federico Santander, Nicolas Dominguez and Aaron Hickey have not yet returned from the treatment table.

Juventus: Rodrigo Bentancur is suspended for this trip. Aaron Ramsey, who is tipped to leave in the summer, is out with a muscular injury while Leonardo Bonucci might be limited to a substitute role. Alex Sandro is back, having missed the recent Coppa Italia final victory due to suspension.

Key stats

Juventus won all of their last 10 encounters with Bologna.
The home side are winless in their last six ties in a row.
The Reds and Blues have failed to score in seven of their last eight clashes with the Old Lady.