What's at stake
An opportunity to stay within the chase of Serie A's top four clubs of table-topping AC Milan, who are level on points with Antonio Conte's Napoli, AS Roma and Inter Milan.
Juventus would leap over fifth-placed Bologna if they can secure maximum points inside the Stadio Renato Dall'Ara this evening. The hosts could propel themselves to fourth spot, overtaking Roma who entertain sixth-placed Como at the Stadio Olimpico on Monday night.
The Bianconeri should be buzzing after their Champions League campaign was rejuvenated courtesy of a hard-fought 2-0 triumph over underdogs Pafos last Wednesday. Manager Luciano Spalletti witnessed Jonathan David scoring a rare goal, which could kickstart the Canada striker's season for Juve.
Juventus face back-to-back Serie A tests against highfliers, with the visit of Roma to the Allianz Stadium next weekend, before a run of what seem like easier opponents before they polish off their Champions League campaign in January.
Getting things running smoothly at Juve is imperative before they entertain Portuguese giants Benfica and visit Paul Pogba's AS Monaco. Building up confidence with a string of Serie A victories should help the Bianconeri tackle Europe's biggest club competition.
Recent form
Juventus netted a hat-trick of triumphs before they came a cropper at Naples, after former Bianconeri boss Conte outwitted Spalletti last Sunday. Napoli's commanding first half highlighted Juve's flaws, for what was arguably their worse 45 minutes in decades.
Juve were left chasing shadows but thanks to the brilliance of Turkish talent Kenan Yildiz, employed as a false no9 for the first time by Juventus, He bagged an equalizer after the turnaround, but Napoli were far superior to Juve and won the clash to subject Spalletti to his first defeat at the Turin titans.
Juventus have been recently involved in the proverbial game of two halves. This was very transparent in the dramatic win at Bodo/Glimt, last weekend in Naples and by beating Pafos in Turin.
Red-hot Yildiz keeps stealing the show with dazzling displays, and should be part of another tactical tweak upfront for the Bologna trip in the absence of Juve's star striker Dusan Vlahovic.
At the other end of the pitch there remains the same defensive vulnerability that former Juve boss Igor Tudor failed to sort out in his seven-month stint. Teun Koopmeiners has stepped in with some impressive performances as a makeshift defender.
Bologna are on a three-match unbeaten run and will warm up for next week's Supercoppa Italiana against Juventus.
Although the Rossoblu tend to score goals, like Juve they frequently concede. If they can tighten up the back they could become serious Scudetto contenders.
Having thrashed Red Bull Salzburg 4-1, Bologna were stunned 3-1 by visiting Cremonese before bouncing back to reel off a slender win over struggling Parma before being held to a stalemate in Rome by Lazio.
Normal service resumed in Spain with the midweek win at Celta Vigo, before the highflying clash against Juventus.
Team news
Goalkeeper Carlo Pinsoglio (calf), defensive duo Gleison Bremer (knee) and Federico Gatti (knee) plus forwards Arkadiusz Milik (shin) and Vlahovic (adductor) are all on the injury list.
Former Italy international Daniele Rugani should return to the team, albeit in a limited capacity, while skipper Manuel Locatelli may have fallen out of favor following a recent dismal display.
Spalletti wants more out of Federico Conceicao, and will demand more strikes along with goal assists from the Portuguese winger.
It is anyone's guess where Yildiz will start, but the Juventus head coach should spearhead the attack with goal poacher over utilizing the pace of unorthodox forward Lois Openda. The pair are on the wanted list of German and Spanish sides.
Juve's familiar 3-4-2-1 tactical approach is likely to be used to tackle Bologna with the steady hands of shotstopper favored over Mattia Perin. The reliable trio of Pierre Kalulu, Lloyd Kelly and Teun Koopmeiners as starters is almost guaranteed
Andrea Cambiaso and Weston McKennie as wingbacks with the return of a starting berth for Khephren Thuram and either with skipper Locatelli or Fabio Miretti as the other midfielder.
Conceicao should get the nod of Edon Zhegrova to join Yildiz as attacking midfielders behind David.
Bologna boss Vincenzo Italiano has to tackle the Supercoppa Italiana Final Four in Saudi Arabia next Friday, joining Inter, Milan and Napoli. A rotation of his squad is expected, following their midweek Europa League success over Celta Vigo.
Center-back Jhon Lucumì is expected to return from a hamstring injury for the Rossoblu alongside central defender Torbjorn Heggem. Scottish midfielder Lewis Ferguson could feature, having started on the bench for the Europa League tie.
There is a battle for a starting berth upfront between Netherlands international Thijs Dallinga and Argentinian 21-year-old Santiago Castro.
Italiano has the quartet of center-backs Nicolo Casale (physical discomfort) and Martik Vitik (muscle injury), veteran keeper Lukasz Skorupski (thigh) and midfielder Remo Freuler (shoulder) sidelined.
Juventus manager quotes
Spalletti enthused at his pre-match press conference: "I want to compliment Bologna, as a team and a club, for the quality they’re showing. On the field, they’re a side that look to impose their game on their opponents, and they’re not afraid of anything.
"They direct you into the spaces they want you to go to. You have to overcome this to give them problems. We have to be stronger and more skilled than they are if we want to avoid a complicated evening.
“Personality is key in football. In the past, it was those who took risks who had it. But now it means accepting the game across the whole pitch, taking the challenge where it suits us best.
"We need to be more consistent in being able to do that and to attack the space for the entire game. To play a really high-level match, you really need to be on it for 90 minutes.
“Do I see some of myself in [Bologna coach Vincenzo] Italiano? I’ve 40 years on him, so I’ll take that [laughs]. He’s a very good coach, one of the best we have in Italy. I’ve advised a lot of clubs to hire him, I’m a fan of his work.”
Expected lineups
Juventus possible starting XI:
Di Gregorio - Kalulu, Kelly, Koopmeiners - McKennie, Locatelli, Thuram, Cambiaso - Conceicao, Yildiz -David
Bologna possible starting XI:
Ravaglia - Holm, Heggem, Lucumí, Miranda - Ferguson, Moro - Orsolini, Odgaard, Cambiaghi - Castro
Head-to-head record
Last season's Serie A matches ended with a pair of stalemates. They played out a 2-2 draw inside the Allianz Stadium last December, with the return game in Bologna finishing 1-1 in May.
In 54 meetings, Bologna have only picked up a pair of victories. There have been 15 draws with Juventus dominating their encounters with 37 triumphs, although their past league clashes have ended all square.
OldJuve prediction
Bologna 1 Juventus 1
Although the Bianconeri have netted four wins from their past five matches, with the only blip last weekend's trip to Napoli, Spalletti has yet to get his troops firing on all cylinders.
Their trip to the Renato Dall’Ara to face the Coppa Italia winners is not as daunting as it could have been, as Juventus have picked up 11 points from their past half-a-dozen Serie A games to match Bologna's haul from six matches.
Unpredictable Juventus need to start competing for a full 90 minutes and not gift their opponents a first-half advantage, because one day they will not be able to bounce back if the Bianconeri concede too many opening half goals.
With both teams collecting a pair of draws from their past six games, this encounter has a stalemate written all over it. Especially as their past three league meetings have ended all square. A share of the spoils could suit the managers, although will keep them off the pace for a top four finish this season.