In exceptional form, the Turkish forward is set to be central to Luciano Spalletti's plans as Juventus prepare for a crucial trip to Bologna, aiming to reignite their pursuit of European football.

Following their defeat to Napoli, Juventus face a must-win fixture against Vincenzo Italiano's Bologna. Spalletti is counting on Yildiz to play a key role in turning their season around and keeping them in the hunt for European spots.

The young talent is in a rich vein of form. In their recent loss to Napoli, Yildiz scored the only Juventus goal, and his absence from the pitch was felt immediately.

After he was substituted, Juventus lost their momentum, conceding Hojlund's second goal just minutes later, which sealed a 2-1 victory for the Azzurri.

Spalletti admitted after the match that he apologised to his players for the decisions he made, with the left winger's early substitution (with 15 minutes remaining and the score level) being the most debated choice. But why is the 2005-born forward so crucial to Juventus' success?

Yildiz's impact in numbers

His importance is reflected in the statistics. Of his five league goals, an impressive 80% have directly impacted the result, either securing a draw or putting Juventus ahead.

This percentage is matched by only one other Serie A player: Rafael Leao. Following them are Lautaro Martinez (71.4%), Pulisic (57.1%) and Calhanoglu and Orsolini, both at 50%.

The 20-year-old also ranks highly on a special European list, which measures the attacking contributions of Under-21 players in the five major leagues.

At the top of the rankings is Barcelona's Lamine Yamal with 13 goal contributions, followed by Nico Paz with 10. Yildiz comes in third, with eight contributions (five goals and three assists), sharing the spot with rising stars like Said El Mala, Can Uzum, Diomande and Arda Guler.

The player's recent form speaks volumes. He scored a decisive brace in the 2-1 victory over Cagliari, followed by a goal against Napoli that temporarily levelled the score before the hosts found a winner.

His consistent goal-scoring run has made him a vital asset for Juventus, and his presence on the pitch has become a game-changer for Spalletti's side.

At the Dall'Ara, Spalletti will once again look to his'little gem, hoping that his excellent form can help Juventus break into the European places and climb away from the seventh position that currently feels too low for the Old Lady.

Kenan Yildiz stats Juventus Serie A

Kenan Yildiz

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