Serie A Week 34 - 1/5/05 (15.00)
Juventus – Bologna
Stadio Delle Alpi
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On paper this Stadio Delle Alpi clash looks about as one-sided as they come. Scudetto contender Juventus, with six wins in their last eight matches, taking on a Bologna side without a win in six games. But this Serie A season has brought about so many shocks that nothing can be taken for granted. There was little to separate the sides in this season’s previous meeting, which Juventus stole with a late Pavel Nedved strike. But for the same player grabbing a similarly late goal against Lazio last week, Juve would be lagging behind in the Scudetto hunt.
Fabio Capello remains without the suspended Zlatan Ibrahimovic for at least another two matches, so it was a welcome boost that Alex Del Piero quickly shook off the injury he picked up in the aforementioned Lazio clash. And he can also call upon Emerson’s services after the Brazilian sat out the Olimpico clash, with the disappointing Alessio Tacchinardi missing out.
Bologna will definitely be without the injured Stefano Torrisi after he limped out of the 0-0 draw with Fiorentina. Carlo Mazzone is likely to hand his place to the much-maligned former Juve defender Nicola Legrottaglie, who will have a point to prove against the team that so cruelly disposed of him in January.
It is also worth noting that Carlo Mazzone was Coach of the Perugia side which beat Juventus on the last day of the 1999-2000 season. That result cost the Old Lady Lo Scudetto – can Mazzone repeat the trick five years on?
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Juventus: Buffon; Pessotto, Thuram, Cannavaro, Zambrotta; Camoranesi, Emerson, Blasi, Nedved; Zalayeta, Del Piero
Bologna: Pagliuca; Juarez, Gamberini, Legrottaglie, Sussi; Nervo, Amoroso, Colucci; Giunti, Bellucci; Tare