Udinesevs.Juventus

A battle of the Bianconeri will see Juve travel to Udine without a win in three matches, while their hosts threw away three points in Venice last time out.

Match preview

Former owners of the most solid defence in Serie A, having conceded just one goal in their first eight league games, Juventus have recently lapsed at the back; leading to a sharp downturn in results.

After losing 1-0 to Stuttgart in the Champions League, Juve went on to ship four in a dramatic Derby d'Italia draw with Inter Milan, though their remarkable second-half comeback covered for some unusually shaky defending.

In the continued absence of injured centre-back Bremer, the Bianconeri were exposed again on Wednesday, when promoted Parma found the net twice in Turin, requiring two levellers - from USA internationals Tim Weah and Weston McKennie - to salvage a point.

Thiago Motta's men therefore fell seven points behind leaders Napoli, having ended yet another game all-square. Juventus have now drawn no fewer than 16 of 30 league matches in 2024 - that is more than any other club across Europe's top five leagues.

In fact, one more stalemate on Saturday would see them equal a longstanding club record of 17, set back in 1956, but Motta will be intent on stopping that trend and securing maximum points.

Ahead of their final two fixtures leading into the next international break - away to Lille and then at home to city rivals Torino - Juve are therefore targeting a 14th win from 18 league meetings with Udinese over the past decade.

In all, Udinese have lost 68 Serie A matches against Juventus - more than against any other opponent - but they did taste success when the clubs last met, recording a shock 1-0 win in Turin earlier this year.

Victory last week kept the in-form Friulani among several sides chasing Napoli, sitting level with Lazio, Atalanta BC and Fiorentina, but they fluffed a fine chance to pass Juve on points by losing on Wednesday.

After cruising into a two-goal lead against regional rivals Venezia, thanks to early goals from Sandi Lovric and Iker Bravo, the Bianconeri saw that advantage evaporate: Isaak Toure's red card proved costly, as their hosts converted two penalties en route to an improbable 3-2 victory.

While cursing his team's luck at Stadio Penzo, head coach Kosta Runjaic can still claim to have made a positive start to his stay in Udine.

The former Legia Warsaw boss - who previously spent most of his career in Germany - inherited a squad that had just come perilously close to relegation, but they are now within five points of reigning champions Inter with more than a quarter of the campaign played.

Udinese Serie A form:

L

L

W

L

W

L

Udinese form (all competitions):

W

L

W

L

W

L

Juventus Serie A form:

D

W

D

W

D

D

Juventus form (all competitions):

W

D

W

L

D

D

Team News

Juventus coach Thiago Motta may make a handful of changes to his team this weekend, amid a busy schedule, so Derby d'Italia star Kenan Yildiz and fit-again midfielder Teun Koopmeiners may be considered for starts.

While long-term absentees Bremer and Arkadiusz Milik are unavailable, Nico Gonzalez is nearing a return and Douglas Luiz could be back in action after a thigh problem.

Due to a lack of alternatives, Dusan Vlahovic - Juve's six-goal leading scorer in Serie A - is rarely rested and will continue to lead the line up front.

Meanwhile, Udinese were missing Florian Thauvin, Alexis Sanchez, Thomas Kristensen and Jurgen Ekkelenkamp in midweek, but the latter may return to the squad on Saturday.

Isaak Toure's dismissal against Venezia results in a suspension, and that opens the door for Christian Kabasele to come back into the hosts' defence.

In attack, Juventus-linked Italy striker Lorenzo Lucca should be partnered by either Keinan Davis or Iker Bravo, with fellow forwards Sanchez and Thauvin still resident in the treatment room.

Udinese possible starting lineup:

Okoye; Kabasele, Bijol, Giannetti; Ehizibue, Lovric, Karlstrom, Zarraga, Zemura; Bravo; Lucca

Juventus possible starting lineup:

Di Gregorio; Cambiaso, Kalulu, Gatti, Cabal; Locatelli, McKennie; Conceicao, Koopmeiners, Weah; Vlahovic

We say: Udinese 1-2 Juventus

It is not easy to get the better of Udinese on home turf - where they have lost only once this term, conceding less than one goal per game - but Juventus are due a win and have history on their side.

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