Juventus must do everything in their power to ensure a win over visitors Udinese and cling on to the tightly-contested fourth spot in the Serie A standings.
For a club like Juventus and their ambitions, securing UEFA Champions League football is imperative, as Igor Tudor has a massive task at hand in the final two games of the Serie A season against Udinese and Venezia. The race for the fourth spot is still very much alive, with four teams angling to occupy that coveted place.
As things stand Juventus are level on 64 points with Lazio, while Roma and Bologna are chasing those two down with 63 and 62 points respectively. With two games remaining, these minute gaps will determine a close-edged finish to the season’s top-four race.
Juventus have met two of those three teams in their last two games, with both ending in eventful draws. Those results ensured the Bianconeri have kept their place at the top of the pile, albeit on goal difference, as Igor Tudro will demand a big win over Udinise to consolidate their place in the top four.
As a bonus, Tudor will hope that Udinese will continue their terrible record against Juventus on Sunday, with the visitors only managing to score once in their last six meetings. That strike came last year, at this very venue when Kosta Runjaic’s side secured a 1-0 win.
In any case, Runjaic’s side are under no pressure ahead of this clash compared to what Juventus are under, as they are safely settled in mid-table. Hence, there’s always the chance for teams to have nothing to gain at this stage to play for pride, as the Udinese manager will hope for a positive result in Turin.
Team News & Tactics
Juventus
Tudor must manouvre through a defensive crisis ahead of this game, as Lloyd Kelly will miss out with a problem. He joins the likes of Juan Cabalk, Gleison Bremer and Andrea Cambiasso on the sidelines, while Pierre Kalulu also misses out with a suspension.
To add to their woes, Nicolo Savona is also missing through a suspension, as Tudor might consider using skipper Manuel Locatelli as a makeshift centre-back for this clash. Alberto Costa and Renato Veiga could slot on either side of Locatelli in that back three, which could allow Douglas Luiz to stake a claim in one of the central midfield roles alongside Khephren Thuram.
Francisco Conceicao and Timothy Weah are pencilled in for those wing-back roles, while Nico Gonzalez and Kenan Yildiz manage the attacking spaces. Randal Kolo Muani’s key strike against Lazio will likely let him start against Udinese ahead of Dusan Vlahovic, who has not scored for Juventus since Tudor took over.
Probable Lineup (3-4-2-1): Gregorio; Costa, Locatelli, Veiga; Conceicao, Luiz, Thuram, Weah; Yildiz, Gonzalez; Kolo Muani
Udinese
Udinese must make do without key men Isaak Toure and Florian Thauvin, with the pair suffering from respective injury troubles. Moreover, Lorenzo Lucca and Arthur Atta are suspended for this trip, meaning Simone Pafundi might get a place in the starting lineup.
Runjaic will continue to deploy a back three of Jaka Bijol, with Thomas Kristiansen and Oumar Solet on either side. Rui Modesto and Hassane Kamara are the preferred personnel in the wing-back roles. Jesper Karlstrom will be the deepest of the four midfielders in Runjaic’s setup.
Keinan Davis will operate in a more advanced role, while Sandi Lovric and Oier Zarraga will operate more centrally. Pafundi will lead the line in light of the key absences ahead of this trip to Turin, as he will want to make the best out of Juventus’ changed backline.
Probable Lineup (3-5-1-1): Okoye; Kristiansen, Bijol, Solet; Modesto, Lovric, Karlstrom, Zarraga, Kamara; Davis; Pafundi
Key Stats
Juventus are undefeated in 34 of their last 38 matches (Serie A
Juventus have kept a clean sheet in 5 of their last 6 matches against Udinese in all competitions
Juventus are undefeated in 17 of their last 19 matches against Udinese in all competitions.
Udinese have managed one victory against Juventus in their last 6 meetings.
Player to Watch
Manuel Locatelli
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The Juventus skipper will probably play the most important game of the season so far in a slightly unfamiliar role in central defence. A crisis at the back will likely see Tudor use Locatelli in his back three, as the midfielder must put in a masterclass shift to ensure his team gets all three points.
Locatelli certainly has the experience to fulfill this role, although he could also be seen as a weak link by Udinese and their manager. Hence, all eyes will be on the midfielder ahead of this clash, as Tudor and the fans will hope he puts in that top-notch shift in an unfamiliar position.
Prediction
Juventus 2-0 Udinese
Udinese are missing key attackers, and add to their terrible record against Juventus, there’s not much expected from Runjaic’s side ahead of this trip to Turin. The visitors are not under any pressure with regards to their season, although they might suffer because Juventus will be hungry for a win here.
This clash with Udinese is probably the most important game for Tudor so far in his short reign as Jjventus manager. A win will place Juventus as the clear favourites to finish fourth ahead of the final game of the campaign, and despite the Bianconeri having some key issues at the back, they are expected to take all three points and keep a clean sheet in the process.