MILAN: Juventus took a big step towards qualification for next season’s Champions League with a 2-0 victory over Bologna on Sunday, moving three points behind second-placed AC Milan in fourth.Headers in each half from Jonathan David and Khephren Thuram were enough for for Juve to see off Bologna and inch closer towards the objective Luciano Spalletti was given when he was hired in October to replace the sacked Igor Tudor.

David’s glanced finish from Pierre Kalulu’s cross was his first club goal since the start of February and came moments after a pre-match tribute to former Juve goalkeeper Alexander Manninger who died on Thursday aged 48 after his car was hit by a train.

Manninger, who made 40 appearances for Juve between 2008 and 2012, was applauded by fans who then loudly chanted his name after Gianluigi Buffon, Leonardo Bonucci and Giorgio Chiellini brought flowers onto the pitch in their former team-mate’s honour.

Thuram doubled the hosts’ lead with his fourth goal of the season in the 57th minute from another perfectly delivered cross, this time from Weston McKennie.

“We’re on the right track. Every time we play I see something new from my players, all I can do is compliment them,” said Spalletti.

Bologna are now 10 points away from the Euro­pean positions in eighth and did little to trouble Juve, although Jonathan Rowe should have halved the deficit shortly after Thu­ram’s goal when he smashed Nadir Zortea’s low cross onto the post from point-blank range.

Published in Dawn, April 21st, 2026