Juventus stays unbeaten with last-gasp leveller
Juventus came from two goals down to draw 2-2 with Bologna and maintain its unbeaten start to the season in Serie A, as Samuel Mbangula's stoppage-time goal ensured a draw for a ninth time this campaign.
Juventus had been staring at a first league defeat under Thiago Motta, having entered the final half-hour 2-0 down to its in-form visitors and his old club.
Dan Ndoye gave Bologna a deserved lead on the half-hour mark and it doubled that advantage seven minutes into the second half through Tommaso Pobega.
Teun Koopmeiners pulled one back for Juventus 10 minutes later and, with time running out, Mbangula struck from outside the area to snatch a last-gasp draw for the hosts.
Although it remains the only unbeaten side in the Italian top flight this campaign, Juve is sixth with 27 points from 15 games, its nine draws keeping it seven adrift of current leader Atalanta.
Bologna, meanwhile, is still eighth but has moved level on 22 points with AC Milan, beaten by Atalanta on Saturday (AEDT), having played one game fewer than the Bianconeri.
Motta was far from satisfied with Juventus's performance.
"The positive point was the reaction. We pulled back a game which was in a very bad position," Motta said after the game.
"We are not satisfied with the result or even with what we have done. I have to thank the guys for the heart and the courage that they showed."
Motta refused to criticise his players' attitude, instead acknowledging he made tactical errors as Bologna attempted as many shots as Juve.
"No player went missing. It was a tactical problem and that's my fault," Motta said. "We were not able to overcome the pressure. Today was complicated and we went into difficulty, then we came back but we can't be satisfied.
"I repeat, we are not satisfied but this must make us stronger."
Motta knows the Turin giants need to start turning draws into wins if they are to climb the table, adding: "We have to improve to be in the position where we want to be, which is not the one we have today.
"We have to deal with this situation by moving forward and improving for the next game on Wednesday."
Manchester City visits Turin for a UEFA Champions League tie this week, with both sides on eight points and outside the automatic qualification places.
