Still clinging on to a precious top-four place, Juventus play their final home game of the Serie A season when they welcome Udinese to Turin on Sunday.
In a battle of the Bianconeri, Juve need points to aid their Champions League quest, while the visitors are already bound for a mid-table finish.
Match preview
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With two rounds remaining, there are still a quartet of teams within two points of fourth place in Serie A, and Juventus head the pack as an incredibly tight race reaches its final bend.
As things stand, Juve occupy fourth spot on 64 points, level with Lazio, while Roma are sixth on 63 and Coppa Italia winners Bologna sit seventh on 62.
The fallen giants could have been carrying a three-point advantage into the penultimate matchday, but Pierre Kalulu‘s red card proved costly against direct rivals Lazio last week. Randal Kolo Muani‘s goal had put the Bianconeri on track for a 1-0 win at Stadio Olimpico, but his French compatriot was later sent off, before the home side netted a dramatic stoppage-time leveller.
That brought more frustration for Juve’s fans, as a tally of 16 league draws this season is just one short of their all-time record, set back in 1955-56.
Nonetheless, they have won seven of their last eight Serie A home games – after drawing seven of the previous nine – and interim head coach Igor Tudor boasts a flawless record in Turin.
Only two Juventus managers have won all of their first four home fixtures over the last 50 years – Max Allegri in 2014 and Maurizio Sarri in 2019 – but Tudor can join that select club on Sunday.
Juve have won 12 of their last 15 league games against Udinese, scoring an average of 2.3 goals in the process, so history suggests Tudor’s team can take one step closer to the Champions League.
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In fact, Udinese have scored just one goal in the last six meetings with their fellow Bianconeri, a run in which they have suffered five defeats.
The most recent was a 2-0 home reverse in November, though they did prevail on their last visit to the Allianz Stadium, winning 1-0 in February of last year.
As Kosta Runjaic has led his side to safety with several weeks to spare – a far cry from last term’s desperate final-day escape – the pressure has been off for some time now, and they are drifting towards the end of the season.
Last weekend, top scorer Lorenzo Lucca finally ended his long goal drought, but the Friulani still lost 2-1 to Serie B-bound Monza, conceding in the 90th minute.
That effectively ended hopes of a top-half finish, as 10th-placed Como – now Italy’s form side – are four points ahead with just two games to play.
Curiously, Udinese have won their final away match in five of the past seven years – and have scored in all of the last 24 – so they will aim to continue in that vein before wrapping up a successful season at home to Fiorentina.
Team News
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Juventus are faced by a defensive dilemma, as English centre-back Lloyd Kelly recently joined ACL victims Bremer and Juan Cabal on the sidelines, while Andrea Cambiaso is sidelined by a thigh injury.
Furthermore, Igor Tudor must do without Pierre Kalulu – who will serve a two-match ban after his red card for violent conduct against Lazio – and Nicolo Savona (also suspended).
So, captain Manuel Locatelli may have to drop back from midfield, where Juve will be missing another regular, Khephren Thuram, due to suspension.
In better news for Tudor, Kenan Yildiz is now available, while top scorer Dusan Vlahovic returned from a layoff last week and could be promoted from the bench – but Randal Kolo Muani hopes to keep his place up front.
Despite recently suffering a drought, the latter has still scored seven Serie A goals since making his Juve debut in January, and only Capocannoniere favourite Mateo Retegui has netted more (10) during that time.
Another mid-season signing, Udinese’s Oumar Solet has completed the most dribbles (24) and won possession the second-most times of any Serie A defender this calendar year. He should start alongside Thomas Kristensen and another centre-back who is subject of much transfer speculation, Jaka Bijol.
Like their hosts, the Friulani are missing players for disciplinary reasons, with main marksman Lorenzo Lucca joining French midfielder Arthur Atta in the stands.
Lucca’s usual strike partner Florian Thauvin is still struggling with a foot problem, so Keinan Davis could plough a lone furrow up front.
Juventus possible starting lineup:
Di Gregorio; Gatti, Locatelli, Veiga; Costa, Luiz, McKennie, Weah; Gonzalez, Yildiz; Kolo Muani
Udinese possible starting lineup:
Okoye; Kristensen, Bijol, Solet; Modesto, Payero, Karlstrom, Lovric, Kamara; Ekkelenkamp; Davis
We say: Juventus 2-1 Udinese
Both hit by numerous absences, neither side is particularly adept at retaining leads, so there could be a twist in the tale late on.
Udinese have lost four Serie A games after leading at half time – a league high – while, only Venezia and Como have dropped more points from winning positions than Juventus (23).
Yet, Juve’s need for points to finish fourth should see them scrap out a win against aimless mid-table opponents.
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