Tudor: Bologna draw not pivotal to Juve´s Champions League hopes

Igor Tudor remained upbeat about Juventus’ chances of finishing in the Champions League places despite being held to a 1-1 draw against Bologna on Sunday.

Tudor watched on as Khephren Thuram’s early strike was cancelled out by Remo Freuler’s goal nine minutes after the restart at the Stadio Renato Dall’Ara.

Indeed, Juventus have now drawn 15 league matches this season. Only in 1955-56 (17) and 1965-66 (16) have they managed more in the competition.

The result keeps Juventus in fourth in Serie A, level on points with both Roma and Lazio, while seventh-placed Bologna are only a point off the pace.

And with three games of their season left, Tudor acknowledged that the race to compete in Europe’s elite competition next year was far from over.

“There are three games left, and we are still fourth, albeit level on points. We go to Lazio with confidence, then there’s Udinese and Venezia,” Tudor told DAZN.

“I said before kick-off that, whatever the result, nothing will be decided tonight. I am saying the same against Lazio.

“One game cannot decide everything when there are so many teams crammed together in a few points.”

Juventus are given a 42.3% chance of finishing in the top four according to the Opta supercomputer, ahead of Lazio (20.5%), Roma (16.8%) and Bologna (13.8%).

Though the hosts dominated possession, it was Juventus who looked the more likely to win the game.

Tudor’s team had goals ruled out for offside in either half by Nicolas Gonzalez and Andrea Cambiaso, but Tudor insisted the result was fair.

“The players gave their all… We created opportunities, but we are content with the point, all things considered,” Tudor added.

Bologna and Juventus have now drawn five consecutive matches in Serie A for the first time since the period between 1978 and 1980.

But speaking after the game, Bologna boss Vincenzo Italiano shared the same outlook on the encounter as Tudor.

“There are still nine points up for grabs and that’s an enormous amount at that level of the table,” he said.

“It will be a real battle. There are many head-to-head clashes still to be played, so whoever has the most consistent mentality and intensity will achieve their objective.”

Bologna return to league action against AC Milan this Friday in what will be an audition for their Coppa Italia final clash against the same opponents on May 14.

They end their season with matches against Fiorentina and Genoa in Serie A.

“Clearly, the first meeting with Milan is in Serie A, we must go there to pick up points,” Italiano said.

“I think we’ll be very concentrated, and it won’t distract us ahead of the Coppa Italia.”