Udinese vs Juventus Preview: Probable Lineups, Prediction, Tactics, Team News & Key Stats

Juventus will want to sign off their topsy-turvy Serie A campaign on a high when they travel to the Dacia Arena to face Udinese this weekend.

The Bianconeri are unable to finish in the top four to clinch Champions League football thanks to a fresh 10-point penalty for false accounting and face a must-win encounter against Udinese this Sunday night, which will more or less determine in which lower-tier European competition they’ll be plying their trade next season, i.e., the Europa League or the much-maligned Europa Conference League.

After crashing out of the Europa League last month following a 3-2 aggregate defeat at the hands of eventual winners Sevilla, it is no secret that Juventus have had a really disappointing season. Hit with a 10-point deduction last month and free-falling down the Serie A standings, the Old Lady have come under intense scrutiny. They put in a downbeat display in their 1-0 home loss against fellow Italian giants AC Milan.

Riding on a three-game losing streak, Massimiliano Allegri’s side will once again have plenty of pressure on their shoulders this weekend, knowing that they should need maximum points on Sunday night if they are to clinch a top-six spot.

As for the hosts, Udinese may have glided to Serie A status this season, but the Little Zebras are obviously dragging their way over the finish line and are enduring mid-table mediocrity.

A crazy and action-packed second half saw Udinese blow a 2-0 lead and concede a late defeat against Salernitana last week, which means Andrea Sottil’s men have now lost each of their last three top-flight appearances.

They could potentially be smelling the chance to spring a heavyweight upset here. At the same time, with little left to play for, they could be away on vacation already and are unlikely to be such stubborn opponents.

Udinese and Juventus played out a thrilling 2-2 draw when they met at the Stadio Friuli last season. Ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides, The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at the encounter.

Team News & Tactics

Udinese

Still dealing with long-term injury issues, Udinese will once again be without the services of key players such as Gerard Deulofeu, Enzo Ebosse, Kingsley Ehizibue, and Isaac Success. However, in what is a welcomed boost for Sottil’s side this weekend, Destiny Udogie is back from a one-match suspension and will replace Marvin Zeegelaar, who was sent off last weekend.

Marco Silvestri picks himself up between the sticks, with Udinese lining up in a 3-5-2 formation in front of him. Nehuen Perez ought to line up alongside James Abankwah and Leonardo Buta in the three-man central defensive unit.

Roberto Pereyra and Destiny Udogie will act as the wing-backs and stretch the opposition’s defence. The duo can also drop back to form a back five should Udinese concede the midfield battle. Speaking of midfield, the likes of Tolgay Arslan, Walace, and Sandi Lovric will be well-prepared to give the Bianconeri a tough contest in the midfield battle.

Lazar Samardzic will add creativity and goals to the side as the central attacking midfielder, while January signing Florian Thauvin could be a good option off the bench. After scoring his first goal of 2023 as Udinese fell to an action-packed 3-2 loss against Salernitana last weekend, Ilija Nestorovski will continue to lead the line ahead of the club’s top scorer, Beto, who will be a bench option again.

Probable Lineup (3-5-1-1): Silvestri; Abankwah, Perez, Buta; Pereyra, Arslan, Walace, Lovric, Udogie; Samardzic; Nestorovski 

Juventus

Dusan Vlahovic will be unavailable for Juventus once again. Gleison Bremer went off injured in the defeat to Milan and may be replaced by Leonardo Bonucci should he fail to recover for Sunday’s match. Paul Pogba, Mattia De Sciglio, and Nicolo Fagioli have all been ruled out for this game.

Allegri is likely to set up his side in a 3-5-2 formation. Wojciech Szczesny will start in goal behind the back three of Danilo, Bonucci, and Federico Gatti. Wing-backs Juan Cuadrado and Filip Kostic will be entrusted with providing the width, quality deliveries, and progressive passes from their respective flanks.

Manuel Locatelli should once again partner Adrien Rabiot and Fabio Miretti at the heart of Allegri’s midfield this weekend. Angel Di Maria looks set to make his final Juve appearance on Sunday night after it was confirmed that the ex-Real Madrid and PSG superstar will be leaving Turin this summer.

It’s a straight battle between Arkadiusz Milik and Moise Kean for the striker position; expect the Pole to win it thanks to his aerial prowess, and target-man presence.

Probable Lineup (3-5-1-1): Szczesny; Gatti, Bonucci, Danilo; Cuadrado, Miretti, Locatelli, Rabiot, Kostic; Di Maria; Milik

Key Stats

• Juventus have won ten of their last 12 matches against Udinese in all competitions.
• Udinese have lost their last three Serie A matches.
• Udinese have only lost one of their last nine matches at the Dacia Arena.
• Udinese have scored at least one goal in 16 of their last 18 home league matches.
• Juventus have managed just one clean sheet in their previous eight away league matches.

Player to Watch

Arkadiusz Milik

Embed from Getty Images

While Dusan Vlahovic transfer rumours have packed the headlines, Juventus could be about to lose another key striker this summer. With Arkadiusz Milik likely to leave Marseille this summer, Premier League clubs are lining up, waiting for Juventus to trigger the option to sign him permanently or not.

The 29-year-old striker has nine goals and an assist to his name across all competitions and may as well hit double figures for the season if he’s the one to breach the stubborn Udinese backline. Available for a fee of around £6-7 million, it is really a no-brainer for Juventus to acquire him on a permanent basis before it’s too late and the ship has already sailed away.

Prediction

Udinese 1-3 Juventus

In an ideal world, Juve would like to finish fifth above AS Roma and Atalanta, but that’s largely out of their hands now after the re-imposition of the points penalty. They need other results to fall their way in order to make the Europa League.

The Old Lady are in the midst of what has become a very public crisis, and while losing each of their last three straight games across all competitions does not bode well for their optics of securing a bare minimum consolation of Europa League football for their resilience and battle-hardened attitude, we fancy them to claim all three points comfortably at Dacia Arena, knowing that only a victory here keeps them in contention for the top-six finish and a place in the UEFA Europa League next season.