_**The late-game effort**_
For all the negative that came from the first 60 or so minutes of Saturday night’s match, there was what seemed to be a light that switched on in the closing minutes of this “somewhat” hard fought draw. While so much of the game [Juventus](https://www.blackwhitereadallover.com) seemed to be drifting and moving aimlessly across the pitch, it took two Bologna goals to shake the Bianconeri into some semblance of form.
Now, this can be categorized as both a good and a bad thing, but as there was so much negative to come from this outing, it was positive to see that the squad knew how dire their situation was by the 62nd minute, and that they increased the press and played with a bit more hunger.
On the other hand, it is becoming increasingly more difficult to defend this come-from-behind attitude. What needs to be remembered is that this is Juventus, the single greatest Italian club in the history of football. But lately — at least since the draw against Aston Villa — it hasn’t felt like it.
La Vecchia Signora is historically a club that always equates draws more closely to losses than wins. After a draw against AC Milan in 2007, Alessandro Del Piero was quoted as saying “we can’t afford to be happy with a draw … a draw for Juventus is a defeat.”
The idea behind “fino alla fine” and “winning isn’t everything, it’s the only thing the matters” is that they aren’t just mottos that adorn t-shirts. They are beliefs in the potential and long-term successes of a highly decorated club.
So why does it seem to happen these days only when the situation seems hopeless?
_**Shockingly, Danilo**_
To say the Danilo has been controversial this season. His advanced age in sporting years, coupled with some disastrous performances, have led many individuals to question his role on this Juventus team. However, he had a successful performance against Bologna, registering 2-of-2 aerials won, half of his long balls completed, victories in half of his ground duels, two clearances, an assist on Juve’s first goal, and one key pass.
Say what you will about the Brazilian, but he still has the ability to show up when necessary.
_**Sam, can you do something for me?**_
Samuel Mbangula’s time at Juventus has been interesting. He won the hearts of the Juventus faithful very early on after his goal in the season opener against Como, and is simply a very well-liked new addition to the squad. However, the match against Bologna put the young Belgian in prime position to be the hero of the match, and after a Dusan Vlahovic footrace for the ball, followed by the assist, Mbangula found the upper-right corner of the net, not only saving the draw but solidifying himself as man of the match.
_**Koop de goal**_
Finally. That is really all that can be said.
Even the Paramount Plus commentators were talking about just how frustrated Teun Koopmeiners has been in his first few months at Juventus. Injuries, fever, and negative outlooks from pundits, and the Dutchman in one key play was able to regain the momentum that he has so desperately been grasping for. A short cross from Danilo found Koopmeiners almost in the direct center of the box, and with one sweeping left-footed shot, the Atalanta alum can finally claim to have scored his first goal in black and white (or strangely, highlighter yellow).
Forza Koop, he deserved this one.
### **The Bad**
_**The Streak continues**_
Were it earlier in the season, a few draws mixed in with the wins that keep an unbeaten run alive would be considered a good thing. However, it has now been 15 matches since the 2024-25 season began, and less than half of them have been wins. Draws against big clubs, as unfortunate as they are, can be given a small amount of grace, especially in situations like the Derby d’Italia spectacle. Bologna is no team to scoff at, even after losing Riccardo Calafiori to Arsenal and Juventus laying claim to Thiago Motta as manager. But titles are won in the small matches, and it is becoming increasingly less excusable for these draws against non-Seven Sisters clubs.
Juventus has not lost yet in the Serie A campaign, but at this point are barely winning.
_**Cambias-ouch**_
Plainly stated, this club cannot afford another injury, long or short term. As the team heads into what can be arguably the most difficult match of the Champions League’s new league phase, even if Manchester City are almost as beaten and battered as Juventus at this point, losing such a pivotal player could be the nail in the coffin of the season across multiple competitions. Earlier Sunday, it was reported that Andrea Cambiaso suffered a sprained ankle against Bologna, which casts a large doubt on his availability for Wednesday.
Until then, one can hope that this is simply a flash in the pan injury with no long term consequences.
_**Math doesn’t lie**_
Early on in the season, Juventus’ possession game was incredible. Fans can recall the narrow win against Lazio where the Bianconeri held the ball at 70%, and in that time registering 16 shots, with unfortunately three being on target. This outing against Bologna did not have the same positive statlines for the Old Lady. In what seemed like a very confused and drifting match, the Turin giants held onto the ball for just above 54%, registered three shots on target of ten total, kept a passing accuracy of 80%, and committed 18 fouls. Now, this is not necessarily the worst possible outcome in terms of statistics, but looking at the last few matches of table leaders Atalanta and Napoli, something really needs to change for Juventus if they want to see any long term success with this new experiment.
### **The Ugly**
_**An unexpected header**_
In an almost blink-and-you-miss-it frame of the match’s 51st minute, a wild ball went careering off toward the referee, planting itself in his temple. Almost instantly after, Motta’s first red card as Juventus manager was handed out for dissent. Many fans speculated early on that the ball thrower was Motta himself, but that was later ruled out. As for the red card, it is interesting as a fan to watch a manager get sent off. One part commends the passion and fire toward the match, but the other thinks maybe it’s not a great look. Even Motta himself stated that the send-off was “right.”
Surely decorated veteran Serie A managers such as Jose Mourinho and Max Allegri will have a conversation starter with the new Juventus skipper the next time they all meet.
_**Bet the house on … yellow?**_
This matchup was bound to get physical, especially since Bologna was the former home of Thiago Motta. Over the two halves, eight yellow cards were shown, with one being upgraded to red for the poor skipper himself. Vlahovic, Timothy Weah, and Pierre Kalulu were all cautioned during the match, and four of Vincenzo Italiano’s red and blue finest also caught the eye of the referee.
_**Saving for Man City**_
On a pure note of speculation, one can wonder what the result of the match would have been if players like Khepren Thuram and Kenan Yildiz were in the starting lineup instead of waiting for a late-game substitution. It is understandable that these two key players need to be fresh and ready for Wednesday night’s Champions League outing, but over the course of the season, Thuram and Yildiz have proved themselves integral parts of the squad. It comes down to manager discretion and priorities, and in this case, save the Frenchman and the Turkish starboy for the likes of Erling Haaland and City’s other talented attackers.
### _**Buono, brutto, o cattivo?**_
In a rare break from usual form, I would like to speak directly as myself here. This season has had its ups and downs, magic and tragedy, and no shortage of draws. Every week this squad takes the field wearing the crest and do their best in a bad situation. Injuries, missing players (looking at you, Douglas Luiz), easy three points turned into one. I know that the club is doing everything in its power to win in uneasy times, but something simply feels off. Earlier matches gave me a sense of hope and pride, like Vlahovic’s performance against Leipzig, or the Yildiz spectacle against Inter. But November and December have shown that there are very clear issues going on with the club that need to be remedied quickly. Maybe new signings in January will bolster the ranks, maybe injuries will heal and the club will build momentum. All speculation at this point.
I believe in Motta, Cristiano Giuntoli, and this club, but lately it hasn’t felt like the Juventus that we as fans all fell in love with as children. For our sake, the clubs sake, and the player’s sakes, let’s hope this is an early preamble of experimentation and new-management jitters, and something will come out of this season, even if it’s a better long term scope of what future seasons may look like. As for Bologna, it was simply a brutto match.