Juventus were looking to go six points clear at the top of Serie A with victory over Bologna away from home on Friday.
The Italian champions headed into the contest three points ahead of second-placed Roma in pole position, having lost just once away from home in the league this season.
On the other hand, hosts Bologna were just a place above the relegation zone with 12 points from 14 matches.
In what proved to be a competitive match at the Stadio Renato Dall'Ara, it was Juve who came out on top with a 2-0 win, thanks to goals from Arturo Vidal and Giorgio Chiellini.
Read how it all unfolded in our minute-by minute live commentary below.
Hello and welcome to Sports Mole’s live coverage of the Serie A clash between Bologna and Juventus. It promises to be an intriguing contest at the Stadio Renato Dall'Ara between two teams with different fortunes, and you can follow all the action live as it unfolds here on this page.
Antonio Conte’s Juve will head into the contest place in pole position with 37 points from 14 matches. The Italian champions are three points clear at the top of the league table and will double their lead with victory tonight.
The Bianconeri are in a strong run of form at the moment, having embarked on a six-match winning streak in Serie A. They displayed their resilience and resolve last time out when they sneaked past Udinese in Turin with an injury-time goal from Fernando Llorente.
On the other hand, Bologna are struggling in 17th place in Serie A with 12 points from 14 matches, just a place above the relegation zone. The Rossoblu’s wretched form got even worse on Tuesday when they were knocked out of the Coppa Italia by Siena, who beat them 2-1 at the Stadio Renato Dall'Ara.
Stefano Pioli's side have drawn their last two Serie A matches against Parma and Inter Milan and have not won in their last four league fixtures. Tonight they will be the underdogs and it would indeed be a surprise if they get anything against Juventus.
The teamsheet is out and I will type in the names shortly. But I can confirm that Juve have made a host of changes to their team with an eye on midweek’s Champions League game against Galatasaray.
BOLOGNA XI: Curci; Antonsson, Natali, Mantovani; Garics, Krhin, Perez, Morleo; Kone, Diamanti; Bianchi
JUVENTUS XI: Buffon; Barzagli, Ogbonna, Chiellini; Isla, Vidal, Pogba, Marchisio, Peluso; Quagliarella, Vucinic
So Conte starts with Fabio Quagliarella and Mirko Vucinic in attack instead of his usual front-duo of Carlos Tevez and Fernando Llorente. Defender Leonardo Bonucci is also out of the starting lineup and his place is taken by Angelo Ogbonna. Mauricio Isla and Federico Peluso are the two wing-backs for the Old Lady, while Paul Pogba, Claudio Marchisio and Arturo Vidal make up a formidable midfield.
Bologna have named a very attacking lineup with Pangiotis Kone, Alessandro Diamanti and Rolando Bianchi all in the first XI.
Juve are without their influential playmaker Andrea Pirlo, who suffered a knee injury in last weekend’s 1-0 home win against Udinese and will be out for the rest of the year. However, in Pogba the Italian giants have a youngster who will replace the veteran ably.
Juve have a crucial Champions League Group B clash against Galatasaray in Istanbul on Tuesday. They need to win that contest to progress to the last 16. Coach Conte, though, has insisted that his players are fully focused on defeating Bologna tonight.
However, one suspects that Conte is more concerned with Tuesday’s match than today’s, given his team selection. He has the best squad in all of Italy and even a defeat tonight will not decrease his side’s chances of winning the Serie A titles three seasons in a row. However, they cannot afford to lose out on a place in the last 16 in the Champions League – many thought that this term Juve could go all the way in the competition, but they are on the brink of elimination.
Anyway, back to today’s match, and just around five minutes left until kickoff at the Stadio Renato Dall'Ara. Bologna have won just once at home all season and lost twice, while Juve have scored 10 goals in seven league fixtures on the road, conceding six.
The players are getting ready to come out onto the pitch and the contest will begin shortly. Juventus are the huge favourites and should bag all three points tonight.
The players are now coming out onto the pitch as the pre-match formalities are about to take place.
Pre-match formalities are sorted and the match is almost underway.
KICKOFF Juventus get the game underway looking for their seventh Serie A win in a row...
CHANCE! Juventus are already creating chances as Gianluca Curci is forced into a save from a Mauricio Isla cross from the right.
It’s been a bright start to the contest, with Juventus looking the more dominant side as expected. They are holding onto the ball nicely at the moment.
CHANCE! Fabio Quagliarella goes for a shot from distance but it goes wide. It was dipping, though, just that it wasn’t on target. The intensity is building at the Stadio Renato Dall'Ara.
Good attacking movement from Juventus that sees Isla almost sent Quagliarella through on goal – his pass is a bit too heavy. Bologna are really very poor defensively. They have good players in attack, but it is at the back that they tend to struggle.
Good defending from Cesare Natali as he prevents Mirko Vucinic from collecting Andrea Barzagli’s through-ball inside the Bologna box with a sliding tackle. The hosts are looking susceptible at the back.
Vucinic is looking a bit slow and has yet to really light up tonight. That is understandable as he lacks match fitness, having not played too many games this term.
GOAL! Bologna 0-1 Juventus (Arturo Vidal)
Who else but Arturo Vidal to open the scoring for Juventus! Fresh from signing a new contract, the Chilean midfielder blasts his side into the lead against Bologna away from home. Claudio Marchisio initially squandered a good chance after watching his close-range shot parried away, but the ball was eventually played back into the area by Federico Peluso and Vidal slammed it home from just yards out on the right.
Bologna are already up against it and we have played just 15 minutes. It would take a real big effort from the hosts to turn their game around. Vidal, who is on red-hot form at the moment, might actually be the best midfielder in his position at the moment in Europe.
CHANCE! Fabio Quagliarella earns Juve a corner with a shot from the edge of the area that is deflected just wide of the near post. The Italian striker is looking very hungry for goals tonight.
CHANCE! Angelo Ogbonna could have done better! The corner kick falls to the defender inside the box and he shoots towards goal on the turn, but it is well wide from what was a very promising position.
Juventus are in control of proceedings at the moment. They are still in first gear and have not really played exceptionally well – this just shows how strong they are even without the likes of Tevez, Llorente, Bonucci and Pirlo in the team. Best squad in Italy? In my opinion, yes.
YELLOW CARD The first yellow card of the evening is shown to a Juventus player. Federico Peluso is cautioned for his challenge on Alessandro Diamanti, who is one of the most creative players in Serie A and has been linked with a move to Juve.
Bologna have just earned a free kick around 35 yards from goal. Diamanti will take it with his left foot...
SAVE! Wonderful save from Gianluigi Buffon as he stretches to his left and turns Diamanti’s wonderfully taken free kick out for a corner, which eventually yields nothing for the hosts.
Juventus are actually struggling to get the ball out of their own half at the moment. They are not being tested by any means, but Bologna are pushing forward and keeping the visitors quiet. But for how long?
Vucinic is down at the moment following a challenge. I remember Vucinic clutching to his chest earlier in this match and he seems to be struggling. He should get up on his feet shortly, but I have a feeling that he might not be able to carry on for too long.
YELLOW CARD Andrea Mantovani goes into the referee’s book for a bad challenge from behind on Vidal. He is the second player to have been cautioned tonight after Peluso of Juventus.
CHANCE! Brilliant first-time effort from Diamanti, who rushes onto a teed-up pass outside the box and shoots on goal with his left foot. But it is hit straight at Buffon, who punches it out for a corner, which the hosts fail to capitalise upon.
Bologna earn yet another corner and once again they fail to do much about it, despite Diamanti playing it short. The home team are amidst a good spell of their own, only they cannot take advantage of it.
CHANCE! Juventus go up the other end and almost make it 2-0! Quagliarella plays the ball to Vidal on the edge of the area and the midfielder lays it wide to Isla, who then drills in a cross that Natali turns away just as it was about to fall to Pogba at the far post.
SUBSTITUTION As I suspected, Vucinic cannot go on any longer and is being replaced by Fernand Llorente.
YELLOW CARD Now Isla goes into the referee’s book for a handball offence inside his own area and near the Juve box.
Five minutes to half time and Juventus are 1-0 up against Bologna. The hosts are very much in the game as the Bianconeri are struggling to assert themselves on the contest.
CHANCE! Wonderful run from Quagliarella, who takes his time to shoot and that makes it easier for the Bologna defenders to clear away the danger.
YELLOW CARD Another Juve player gets into the book, this time it is Giorgio Chiellini.
CHANCE! Bologna earn successive corners and on one occasion Gyorgy Garics finds himself with the ball all on his own. He rushes towards it and takes a first-time shot, but fails to hit the target.
CHANCE! Three chances in a row for Juventus! Isla tries to shoot on goal from inside the Bologna box after it goes over the crossbar. And then Peluso tries to round the goalkeeper for a tap-in, but he carries the ball too far and the momentum is lost. Seconds later Vidal drives his shot wide of the target.
HALF TIME: Bologna 0-1 Juventus
What an end to the half! Juventus, who were soaking the pressure for so long after going ahead in the 13th minute, had three good chances to go 2-0 up right on the stroke of half time. It perhaps would not have been fair on Bologna, who have actually managed to keep their illustrious visitors quiet for most of the half.
It was all Juventus in the opening exchanges and they deservedly surged ahead after 13 minutes through Arturo Vidal, who slammed home Peluso’s pass from close range. The Bianconeri had two decent chances in the following minutes, but midway through the first half Bologna began to press forward.
From thereon, the game was played largely inside the Juve half with Alessandro Diamanti looking very creative upfront. He forced Buffon into a good save with a great free with his left foot and then tested the Italian goalkeeper with a stinging effort. However, the visitors finished the half strongly and could have doubled their lead on the stroke of half time.
Let’s run through the first-half stats. Juventus have had two of their five eight shots on targets, two corner kicks and 56% of possession. On the other hand, Bologna have taken five shots, two of which have ended on target; the hosts have had five corner kicks and 44% of the possession.
The second half will begin shortly. Juventus are still the favourites but from their first-half display it is clear that they need to score one more goal to put the result beyond doubt. Bologna have looked cohesive and thoughtful in attack, and Diamanti could open up the Juve defence with his quality and vision.
The two sets of players are now out on the pitch and the second half will begin shortly. Juventus are 1-0 up from the first 45 minutes.
SUBSTITUTION There has been a change for Bologna. Diego Laxalt has come on for Diego Perez.
KICKOFF Bologna get the second half underway. The hosts are 1-0 down from the first half to visitors Juventus.
CHANCE! Quagliarella runs with the ball, cuts onto his left foot and then shoots from outside the Bologna box, but fails to keep his attempt on target as his shot flies over the crossbar.
CHANCE! Panagiotis Kone tries a spectacular as he endeavours to go for a cheeky back-heel from a Diamanti cross, but the forward’s effort does not trouble Buffon at all.
CHANCE! Juventus rally forward and the ball is fed to the left side of the Bologna box from where Marchisio tries to curl home at the far post, but his shot goes wide.
Five minutes gone in the second half and both sides are intent on scoring the second goal of the contest. There have been chances for both of them in the opening stages of the second period.
Rolando Bianchi tries to run onto a ball sent over the top from inside the Bologna penalty box, but the offside flag goes up. The Bologna attacker has been quiet all evening tonight; I don’t think I mentioned him even once in the first half!
There is not much space in the midfield for either side to take advantage of. There are loads of bodies in that area and that is making the two teams cancel out each other at the moment, although Juve have the advantage of the one goal.
Free kick to Juve from a good position now as Peluso is brought down around 30 yards from the Bologna goal. Quagliarella takes it, but he hits it straight at the wall.
Marchisio goes for a shot as he finds himself in a tight situation with little space and two players closing in on him. However, the Italian midfielder fails to get his shot on target and now Gianluca Curci will take the goal kick.
Half an hour left in the contest and it is still 1-0 to Juventus, who are actually looking comfortable and are showing no signs of conceding anytime soon.
SAVE! Good save from Curci as he parries away a stinging effort from Llorente, who is quick to pull the trigger from a tight situation.
CHANCE! Wonderful play from Llorente, who has the talent and the skill to make space for himself in a congested Bologna penalty area after shrugging off Cesare Natali, but his effort is straight at Curci.
Another disappointing free kick from Quagliarella, who does earn a corner for his side as his effort clips the top of the wall and goes out.. However, the corner does not yield anything productive for the Turin giants.
SUBSTITUTION Bologna coach Pioli makes his second change of the evening. Gyorgy Garics, who had one good chance towards the end of the first half, is replaced by Jonathan Cristaldo.
SUBSTITUTION Conte makes a quick substitution following Peluso’s rather bad challenge on Diamanti. Peluso, who was already on a yellow card, he is replaced by Kwadwo Asamoah.
GOAL RULED OUT Asamoah has the ball inside the Bologna goal just seconds after coming out, but his effort is rightly ruled out for an offside infringement. Still 1-0 to Juventus at the Stadio Renato Dall'Ara.
Another injury concern for Conte as Quagliarella is down with cramp and Pogba is trying to help him out. The ball is played out and the Bologna supporters whistle as they are not happy that the game has been stopped.
SUBSTITUTION Quagliarella now comes off and he is replaced by Carlos Tevez. So we are back to the accustomed Tevez-Llorente frontline for Juventus.
Bologna surge forward as they catch Juventus on a lull and earn a corner for themselves. It is their sixth corner of the evening, I think.
And the hosts fail to muster an thing from that set piece, which eventually finds its way into the safe hands of Buffon.
CHANCE! Llorente squanders away probably the easiest chance of the evening and then Juve almost concede the equaliser! The Spanish striker is sent through on goal but he fails to foil the onrushing Curci yards outside the Bologna box. That sends the hosts into a counter-attack and Cristaldo’s shot from the right goes just wide of Buffon’s far post.
CHANCE! End-to-end stuff at the Renato Dall'Ara, this time it is Juventus who come close to scoring. Vidal and Tevez combine with each other following a quick break, but Curci foils their first attempt. However, the ball falls to the Chilean midfielder back on the right flank from where he floats in a cross that Tevez heads just wide. It would not have mattered, though, as the flag was already up.
Conte is very animated on the touchline. He knows that if Juve hold on for the remaining 15 or so minutes, then his side would have a six-point lead at the top of the table (until Roma play on Sunday, at least).
CHANCE! Claudio Marchisio squanders yet another chance to score tonight, this time from just yards out with no-one to mark him. He tries to send Tevez through over the top but the ball falls back kindly for him; however, his effort on goal is parried away brilliantly by Curci, who has made some astounding saves tonight and might actually be the best player on the pitch.
Will Juventus be made to rue their missed chances in the second half? They are 1-0 up and are looking quite comfortable actually, but the hosts are not out of the contest at all.
CHANCE! Juventus survive but only just! Diamanti floats in a sensational cross over the top with his left foot from the right flank and Archimede Morleo heads it towards goal as his marker Isla strangely does not jump, but the ball goes just wide with Buffon helplessly stranded.
YELLOW CARD Now Claudio Marchisio is shown the yellow card for Juventus for his bad tackle on Diamanti. He has missed at least two good chances tonight and his disappointing display is capped off by that caution.
SAVE! Curci makes yet another save and once again it is Llorente who is denied by the Bologna goalkeeper. The Spanish striker is brilliantly teed up inside the area, but his lingering effort is turned away from point-blank range by Curci.
Just two minutes of normal time left at the Stadio Renato Dall'Ara. Bologna are trailing Juventus 1-0. Will we see a late drama?
SUBSTITUTION Third and final change for Bologna. Denis Alibec comes on for Rolando Bianchi.
GOAL! Bologna 0-2 Juventus (Giorgio Chiellini)
Juventus wrap up the points with their second goal of the evening and it is a defender who gets it. Giorgio Chiellini heads home from close range after connecting with Carlos Tevez’s corner.
Injury concern for Juve as Marchisio is down on the pitch in visible pain and clutching his knee. The medical team is trying to help him.
Marchisio is back on his feet. We have played two of the three minutes of injury time.
FULL TIME: Bologna 0-2 Juventus
It is all over at the Stadio Renato Dall'Ara as Juventus have wrapped up a 2-0 away win against Bologna to go six points clear at the top of Serie A for until Sunday at least. Arturo Vidal opened the scoring for the Bianconeri after just 13 minutes and Giorgio Chiellini secured the points with a headed effort in the final minute of normal time.
Bologna, though, did prove a stern test for the Italian champions and came close on a number of occasions both in the first and the second half. However, their failure to take their chances means that they are now third from bottom in the league standings.
Thank you very much for joining me tonight and hope that you enjoyed our live coverage. Hope you have a good night, it’s goodbye from me for now.
