Serie A (8th day) – Juventus revives against Bologna (3-0)

Juve stops the bleeding. Beaten in Monza before the break and launched on a series of three games without a win before kick-off, the Old Lady regained success on Sunday against Bologna at the Allianz Stadium (3-0). Filip Kostic (24th) opened the scoring before scorers Dusan Vlahovic (59th) and Arkadiusz Milik (62nd) came to lock in a deserved success for the Turinese, who came back four lengths from the top 4 (7th). Opposite, Thiago Motta’s Bologna showed too little to contest the Turin victory and remains threatened by the red zone (17th).

Juve showed another face

They had things to be forgiven. Defeated at Monza (1-0) and plunged into a media whirlwind with a fatal accent, the Bianconeri immediately sought to dispel doubts about a potential relaxation in intentions. The truce bore fruit and Juve regained a dominant pressing, parasitizing the first Bolognese recovery and phagocytizing the second balls disputed in the midfield. An engagement which only lacked movement in the last third.

Two heads from Weston McKennie were responsible for warming the gloves of Lukasz Skorupski (13th, 18th), before a Serbian duo took care of rewarding the locals’ active start. Dusan Vlahovic with the pass and Filip Kostic at the conclusion, with an unstoppable left strike, propelled the Piedmontese in the lead (24th). Bleeding on offensive transitions, the locals were also able to count on a Arkadiusz Milik in great shape, like his start to the season.

Milik, the return of the serial goalscorer

After a first attempt aborted by the firm hand of Skorupski (31st), Milik left goalkeeper Rossoblu no chance shortly after the hour mark, on a powerful volley slammed under the bar, after a favorable counter (3-0 , 62nd). Three minutes earlier, Dusan Vlahovic, the other Bianconero serial scorer, had distinguished himself with a header catapulted into the net, following a worked service from McKennie (2-0, 59th). The Milik-Vlahovic duo (eight goals between them in Serie A this season) shone on Sunday. The latter could even have afforded a double if his stung ball had not fled the frame, on a millimeter service from… Milik (67th).

The former Marseillais seems transformed by the transalpine air. A fulcrum, support for the construction, outstanding provider and racy finisher: the Pole has released the full panoply of the modern and versatile striker. The double was even very close but Skorupski’s post repelled a point-blank header from the Turinese (71st). Drowned under sharp attacks against the Bianconeri, the Rossoblu only had a brilliant sequence of incoming Andrea Cambiaso to get their teeth into (75th), a player on loan… from the Old Lady.

A glaring lack of ambition which was logically sanctioned. Bologna continues to stand still and remains 17th, a small point in front of the relegation zone. The scent of success coupled with a return within shooting range of the top 4 (7th, 13 points) should fill the confidence of the Bianconeri who will host Maccabi Haifa in the Champions League on Wednesday. Again, victory will be imperative.