Manuel Locatelli believes Juventus must become more ruthless if they are going to qualify for the Champions League and win trophies in the future.

The Bianconeri are on course to qualify for UEFA's premier competition, and their hopes were boosted after Como lost to Sassuolo on Friday.

Although Juve will not finish with any silverware this season, Locatelli did give fans something to cheer about after extending his deal at the club until 2030.

No player has won more tackles than Locatelli's 288 among Serie A players since his Juve debut, while only Alessandro Bastoni (11,416) and Amir Rrahmani (11,237) have had more successful passes than the Italian international's 10,660.

Locatelli has won just one trophy with Juve, the Coppa Italia in 2023-24, and he says Juve must improve their quality in crucial moments to change that.

"Unfortunately, we haven’t managed to win any trophies this year, but our goal is to qualify for the Champions League, and the important thing is that we have a solid plan," said Locatelli ahead of their clash against Bologna.

"We need to keep winning because that’s what everyone expects. The fans, the management, and us too.

"There are certain crucial moments, and you have to know how to win certain matches, whatever the cost.

"Over the years, we’ve certainly been lacking something in those situations, that ruthlessness that allows you to achieve the victories that ultimately lead to trophies."

Bologna are still in the hunt for the European places, but a defeat to Juve could end those hopes with six games to go.

Vincenzo Italiano's side have won four consecutive away league games and have always scored at least one goal in their last 14 away matches in the competition.

Bologna could win at least five consecutive away games for only the second time in their Serie A history, after the run between December 1963 and January 1964 (the season of their historic Scudetto under Fulvio Bernardini).

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Juventus – Jeremie Boga

Jeremie Boga, who has scored four goals in his last six Serie A appearances, has been directly involved in four goals against Bologna in the top-flight (two goals and two assists).

Only against Hellas Verona has Boga been involved in more goals in the competition (six goals, with three goals and three assists).

Bologna – Federico Bernadeschi

Between 2017 and 2022, Federico Bernardeschi made 134 appearances, scoring eight goals and providing 14 assists for Juventus in Serie A.

Against the Bianconeri, he has only registered one assist in the competition, which was in January 2017 for Fiorentina.

MATCH PREDICTION: JUVENTUS WIN

Juve are unbeaten in their last six Serie A matches, collecting 14 points (W4 D2); only Napoli (16) have earned more points in the competition during this period – the Bianconeri have also kept four clean sheets in this run.

They are also unbeaten in their last 13 home Serie A matches against Bologna (W9 D4), but they have drawn three of the last four at the Allianz Stadium against them, including the two most recent.

Bologna have not won a Serie A match against Juventus since February 2011 (2-0 at the Olimpico Grande Torino with a Marco Di Vaio brace), recording nine draws and 18 defeats against the Bianconeri since then.

Their run of 27 consecutive games without a win is already their longest ever against a single opponent in the competition.

Luciano Spalletti has averaged 1.96 points per game with Juventus, significantly higher than his predecessor Igor Tudor (1.50) in this Serie A season.

Since Spalletti took charge of the Bianconeri, only Inter (57 points) have earned more points than Juve (45 in 23 matches).

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Juventus – 60.8%

Draw – 21.5%

Bologna – 17.7%