Bologna held leader Juventus to a goalless draw at the Stadio Renato Dall'Ara on Friday to end the reigning champion's 15-game winning streak in Serie A.
Massimiliano Allegri's side had not dropped points since its 1-0 defeat at the hands of Sassuolo back in October and went top for the first time this season last Saturday after beating Napoli, but Juve will drop to second place again if the Naples side beat AC Milan on Monday.
Juventus, now two points above Napoli, was still without Mario Mandzukic and Giorgio Chiellini due to injury, while Allegri decided to rest Paulo Dybala with an eye on the upcoming Champions League last-16 match against Bayern Munich on Tuesday, and their absence proved costly.
Patrice Evra threatened twice in the opening 45 minutes, but the best chances fell Bologna's way to Mattia Destro and Godfred Donsah, with the latter wasting a gilt-edged opportunity to break the deadlock.
Paul Pogba saw three second-half chances go begging as it remained 0-0, Juventus' seventh consecutive Serie A clean sheet.
Evra came close for Juve early on when he beat his marker to the ball after Claudio Marchisio's corner from the left, but the Frenchman's header went just wide.
Bologna looked dangerous on the break and Destro nearly surprised Gianluigi Buffon with a powerful shot from outside the area that the experienced goalkeeper did just enough to keep out, with Donsah guilty of wildly blasting the rebound wide.
Evra got another opportunity when Pogba headed a corner into his path at the half-hour mark, but the former Manchester United defender failed to get his shot on target from close range.
Referee Massimiliano Irrati awarded Bologna a free-kick in a dangerous position shortly after the break that Emanuele Giaccherini aimed too high.
Pogba could have broken the deadlock for Juventus in the 54th minute after some great work from Stephan Lichtsteiner down the right, but he volleyed inches wide after the Switzerland international's good cross.
Destro tried his luck with a free-kick from 20 yards out with 15 minutes left on the clock, yet the former Roma man's attempt went harmlessly over.
Marchisio found Pogba with a sublime pass late on as Juventus went in search of a late winner, only for the Frenchman to fire wide from a difficult angle.
The duo again combined in the 89th minute, but Pogba was frustrated by a fine save from Antonio Mirante this time around as it ended 0-0.
Key Opta stats:
- Bologna remain the only Serie A side yet to concede goals in the opening 15 minutes of play this season.
- Juventus did not attempt any shot on target in the first half of play for their fourth time in a league game this term (it was already happened against Roma, Frosinone and Palermo).
- This game had the lowest number of shots on target attempted in Serie A this season, only one (made by Destro in the first half).
- Juventus' winning run comes to an end after 15 consecutive wins – a record for the club in Serie A.
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