Juve reached Bologna reduced to nine men in extremis

Vlahovic heads Arnautovic’s goal in the 95th minute at the start of the second half Controversy over an alleged penalty denied to the Bianconeri, Soumaoro and Medel sent off

TORINO

The enormous sigh of relief drawn in the 95th minute from the entire Stadium, after having reassembled a Bologna reduced to nine men, is enough to make it clear how afraid Juventus was of suffering a defeat as painful as it was right for what was shown on the pitch. Vlahovic’s goal in extremis, after a convulsive and electrifying final, avoids worse troubles for a team that brakes when instead it had to accelerate.

Last week’s victory in Cagliari, obtained after falling behind, thus becomes a distant memory: thanks to Bologna well organized remotely by the convalescent Mihajlovic with a 3-5-2 that was able to enhance Arnautovic’s shots, but the bianconeri they have so many demerits in this 1-1 that can reopen the games for 4th place. Tomorrow Roma can get close to -3, while Fiorentina has gone to 7 virtual lengths because they still have to recover a game. The viola will be the next rivals in Turin, Wednesday in the semi-final of the Italian Cup, and will close the championship in Florence on 22 May against Vlahovic and his teammates.

Juve against Bologna shot 23 times, but only 4 on goal. The trident Dybala-Vlahovic-Morata worked little and badly, while Cuadrado messed up in the role of mezzala in this experimental and emergency 4-3-3, where Danilo was the director because the only healthy and enlistable midfielder was Rabiot. «In the first half we played badly – Allegri admits -, while there was a reaction in the second half and in the end this is a point gained: on a psychological and ranking level it is important, we see the glass half full. We know that the Champions League must be won on the last day, they travel behind them and winning games is not easy ».

Arnautovic’s goal at 7 ‘of the second half exposed Juve, given how the defense conceded the goal with a central play, but the reaction was more gut than head. Danilo immediately tried (post at 11 ‘) and De Ligt (header rejected by Skorupski two minutes later), but only in the final did Juventus escape. Merit of Morata: first he propitiated the double expulsion of Bologna with a foul on the edge of the penalty area, the Var sentenced Soumaoro to red and Medel immediately afterwards went crazy leaving his team in nine, while at 5 ‘of recovery served Vlahovic with a spectacular overhead kick after a good team action from a corner kick. –