Juventus head into the home game against Bologna on Sunday with their fate in Serie A now firmly in their own hands. They had a Champions league spot on the line in their most recent outing at Atalanta, and came out on top after securing a hard-fought 1-0 victory. Jeremie Boga’s goal in the 48th minute proved to be the difference in a game where the home side had significantly more of the ball.
However, that will not concern Juventus, who took advantage of Como’s 4-3 home defeat against Inter Milan
to climb into the top four. The equation is now simple for Juventus — win their final six games of the season and they will be playing in UEFA’s top club competition next term. Nevertheless, that may be easier said than done given their next couple of matches are against teams currently in the top eight of the standings.
They host Bologna this weekend, before visiting AC Milan next Sunday. A four- or six-point haul would keep them firmly in the mix for Champions League qualification. Juventus round off the season with fixtures against Verona (H), Lecce (A), Fiorentina (H) and Torino (A). All four sides are currently in the bottom half of Serie A.
Sunday’s home fixture against Bologna is first on the agenda and will be shaped by three key individual battles.
Lloyd Kelly vs. Santiago Castro
A tally of seven goals in 29 Serie A appearances may seem like an underwhelming return, but it does not paint the full picture where Santiago Castro is concerned. The 21-year-old Argentine forward has been likened to compatriots Julian Alvarez and Lautaro Martinez, which is high praise considering what they have achieved in the sport.
Castro’s performances for Bologna have attracted interest from the Premier League, with Arsenal and West Ham United reportedly monitoring his progress. His ability to attack space behind defensive lines gives Bologna a useful outlet on the counter-attack, and Juventus must keep a close eye on him this weekend.
Defender Lloyd Kelly has become an integral part of the Juventus backline this season and he must be on top of his game when he goes head-to-head with Castro. Juventus have conceded just one goal in their last five league outings, highlighting greater defensive stability at a crucial part of the season.
If Kelly can keep Castro quiet at the Allianz Stadium, Juventus could take another sizable step towards securing Champions League qualification.
Manuel Locatelli vs. Remo Freuler
While Remo Freuler is heading towards the latter stage of his career, he is still a useful asset to Bologna in the middle of the park. The 33-year-old highlighted his worth last weekend, scoring the opening goal as Bologna recorded a 2-0 home victory over Lecce.
Freuler is renowned for keeping things simple, coupling defensive work rate with ball retention skills to keep Bologna ticking over in the engine room. He is comfortable on the ball and keeps possession well, which makes him a useful cog in a team which is capable of making life difficult for Juventus.
The Swiss veteran is no longer as adept at carrying the ball forward, which could allow Manuel Locatelli more freedom to dictate proceedings in midfield. The 28-year-old is in the prime of his career, proving to be equally effective when operating as a box-to-box midfielder or as a deep-lying playmaker. Locatelli played an integral role in Juve’s 1-0 victory at Atalanta last weekend and will be keen to repeat the trick against Bologna on Sunday.
Kenan Yildiz vs. Jhon Lucumi
Jhon Lucumi’s performances have attracted admiring glances from elsewhere, with Sunderland reportedly amongst the clubs eager to sign him this summer. Lucumi first came to prominence with KRC Genk in Belgium, before securing a move to Bologna in August 2022. He is now a key part of their defence.
The Colombian international helped Bologna to qualify for the 2024/25 Champions League and has continued to demonstrate his talents since then. He missed four games after suffering a hamstring injury in January and Bologna picked up just one victory while he was sidelined. The 27-year-old’s return to action has triggered an upturn in Bologna’s fortunes, with the team winning six of their last nine outings in Serie A.
He will need to be on his toes this weekend when he faces Kenan Yildiz, who has been training separate from the group all week due to knee inflimation. The 20-year-old has bagged 10 goals and seven assists in 31 league appearances this season. Yildiz will be eager to keep impressing ahead of Turkey’s involvement in the 2026 World Cup, and he could be the difference-maker for Juventus on Sunday.
