Key Takeaways:
- Juventus edged Bologna 1:0 away thanks to substitute Juan Cabal’s goal
- The win moved Juventus above Bologna into fifth place in the Serie A standings
- Gleison Bremer returned to action for Juventus, making his first appearance since his injury on September 27
Match Overview
Juventus secured a vital 1:0 away win over Bologna, clinched by a decisive header from substitute Juan Cabal. The victory, achieved in dramatic fashion, saw “the Old Lady” leapfrog Bologna to move into fifth place in the tentative Serie A table. The result extended Juventus’ long-running dominance in meetings at the Dall’Ara, where they have not lost since November 1998, and maintained their unbeaten record against Bologna since February 2011.
FT | ⏹️ | The points come home to Turin! @EASPORTSFC#BolognaJuve pic.twitter.com/lrvbpXjphd
— JuventusFC 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@juventusfcen) December 14, 2025
Team News and Recent Form
Managerial options for Juventus had expanded following their defeat to Napoli in the derby and a Champions League win over Pafos. Daniele Rugani and Gleison Bremer returned to the bench, but the likes of Dušan Vlahović, Federico Gatti, Arkadiusz Milik, and Carlo Pinsoglio remained sidelined with injuries. Bologna, meanwhile, entered the fixture with an inconsistent run of form in Serie A, including a loss to Cremonese and a draw against Lazio, though they had recently recorded a Europa League away win at Celta. Their own injury woes deepened in the days before the match, losing Nicolò Casale, Martin Vitík, Remo Freuler, and Łukasz Skorupski.
Key Match Incidents
The action began at a lively pace, with early opportunities for both sides. Juventus goalkeeper Michele Di Gregorio was called into action with a reflex double save, denying Tommaso Pobega and then smothering Riccardo Orsolini’s immediate follow-up.
Controversy struck in the 36th minute. David chased a long ball before setting up Weston McKennie, who capitalised on a ricochet against Bologna’s onrushing goalkeeper Ravaglia to present the ball on a plate for the Canadian striker. The celebrations were cut short, however, when the goal was disallowed due to McKennie being offside during the build-up.
In the closing stages of the first half, Bologna almost opened the scoring as Riccardo Orsolini’s incisive through ball released Nadim Zortea, whose driven effort struck the post from a tight angle.
Decisive Moments
The breakthrough came after the interval when Juventus exploited a set-piece. Kenan Yildiz delivered a precise cross from a short corner, finding substitute Juan Cabal unmarked just six metres out. Cabal demonstrated composure to head beyond the home goalkeeper, handing Juventus a priceless advantage.
Bologna’s evening deteriorated further when Heggem, attempting to recover from a long pass launched by Di Gregorio, was outpaced by Loïs Openda and brought him down just outside the box. The foul saw Heggem receive a straight red card, reducing the hosts to ten men.
Openda was later denied by an exceptional save from Ravaglia, ensuring Juventus could not double their advantage.
Return of Gleison Bremer
A significant positive for Juventus was the late-game reintroduction of central defender Gleison Bremer. Making his first appearance since sustaining a meniscus injury on September 27, Bremer featured in the final 15 minutes to bolster Juventus’ defensive ranks.
Impact on the Standings
The defeat marked Bologna’s second consecutive home loss in Serie A, while Juventus’s triumph strengthened their challenge for a European qualification spot, reflecting their enduring superiority in this rivalry.
