Italian Champions Juventus moved a place from fourth to third on the Serie A league table with a 2-0 win over Bologna to mount pressure on first and second place rivals, AC and Inter Milan, who dropped vital points on Saturday, failing to put a stronghold on their positions in the log.
Arthur Melo, who joined Juve from Barcelona last season, opened the scoring with it a long-range shit, which took a little deflection 15 minutes into the game.
15' | π¬ | GOOOOOAAALLLLLL!!!!!!! IT'S @ARTHURHROMELO'S FIRST IN βͺοΈβ«οΈ TO GIVE US THE LEAD!!!!!!!! β½οΈ#JuveBologna [1-0] #ForzaJuve@officialpes pic.twitter.com/IEQKBbWddU
— JuventusFC π¬π§πΊπΈ (@juventusfcen) January 24, 2021
It was the Ex-Barcelona player’s first goal in 19 appearances for Juventus, and the Old ladies held on to it into the break after a few missed chances in the first half.
28' | π± | ALMOST A SECOND! Somehow Skorupski pulls off a double save first on @Cristiano and then @fbernardeschi! #JuveBologna [1-0] #ForzaJuve
— JuventusFC π¬π§πΊπΈ (@juventusfcen) January 24, 2021
HT | β± | @arthurhromelo's first Juve goal has us 1οΈβ£π at the break! β½#JuveBologna #FinoAllaFine #ForzaJuve pic.twitter.com/pqnhpDsHxG
— JuventusFC π¬π§πΊπΈ (@juventusfcen) January 24, 2021
After the break, Pirlo’s men maintained the Tempo and pressure and soon got recorded with a second in the 71st minute courtesy of American midfielder Weston McKennie’s header.
71' | πΊπΈ | GOOOOOOAAAALLLLL!!!!!! @WMCKENNIE HEADS HOME TO DOUBLE OUR LEAD!!!!!! β½οΈβͺοΈβ«οΈ#JuveBologna [2-0] #ForzaJuve @officialpes pic.twitter.com/eeYVbKErzD
— JuventusFC π¬π§πΊπΈ (@juventusfcen) January 24, 2021
Mckennie could have made it three just moments later, but he was denied. Nonetheless, his fourth goal in 21 games for Huge since moving from Bundesliga side Schalke was enough to hand the defending champions a much-needed win.
74' | π± | @WMCKENNIE AGAIN! The American almost scores a third with a great ball in from @Cristiano but the keeper just denies!#JuveBologna [2-0] #ForzaJuve pic.twitter.com/pAF99G4Rw1
— JuventusFC π¬π§πΊπΈ (@juventusfcen) January 24, 2021
ONE Clean sheet π π»ββοΈ
— JuventusFC π¬π§πΊπΈ (@juventusfcen) January 24, 2021
TWO Goals β½οΈβ½οΈ
THREE points πππ #JuveBologna #FinoAllaFine #ForzaJuve
Though AC Milan is leading with 43 points and Juve is 7 points behind, they record a welcome one for Pirlo and his men who have endured a somewhat mixed run in the form so far this season.