Juventus face a critical final home game of the Serie A season as they welcome Udinese to the Allianz Stadium on Sunday. With the race for a Champions League spot reaching its climax, the Bianconeri can afford no slip-ups, while Udinese, safe in mid-table, look to finish their campaign on a positive note.
Match Context
Juventus currently sit fourth in Serie A, level on points with Lazio and just ahead of Roma and Bologna in a tightly contested battle for the final Champions League place. Last weekend’s 1-1 draw away at Lazio, marked by a costly red card for Pierre Kalulu, means Juve have now drawn 16 league matches this season-just one short of their all-time record.
Despite their frustration with draws, Juventus have been formidable at home, winning seven of their last eight Serie A matches in Turin. Interim boss Igor Tudor has maintained a flawless home record since taking charge, and a win on Sunday would see him join an elite group of Juve managers to win their first four home games.
Udinese, meanwhile, are drifting toward the end of the season after securing safety weeks ago. Their recent form has been poor, with six defeats in their last nine matches, including a 2-1 home loss to already-relegated Monza last weekend. Historically, Juventus have dominated this fixture, winning 12 of the last 15 league meetings and keeping Udinese to just one goal in the last six encounters.
Team News
The hosts are dealing with a defensive crisis. Lloyd Kelly, Bremer, and Juan Cabal are all out with injuries, while Andrea Cambiaso is sidelined by a thigh problem. Pierre Kalulu and Nicolo Savona are suspended, and Khephren Thuram is also banned from midfield duty. As a result, captain Manuel Locatelli may be required to drop into defense.
On the positive side, Kenan Yildiz is available again, and top scorer Dusan Vlahovic could return to the starting lineup after a recent injury. Randal Kolo Muani, who has scored seven Serie A goals since joining in January, is expected to keep his place up front.
Udinese are also missing key players. Top scorer Lorenzo Lucca and midfielder Arthur Atta are suspended, while Florian Thauvin remains out with a foot injury. Keinan Davis is likely to lead the line, supported by a defense featuring Oumar Solet, who leads Serie A defenders in completed dribbles this calendar year.
Probable Starting XI’s
Juventus:Di Gregorio; Gatti, Locatelli, Veiga; Costa, Luiz, McKennie, Weah; Gonzalez, Yildiz; Kolo Muani
Udinese: Okoye; Kristensen, Bijol, Solet; Modesto, Payero, Karlstrom, Lovric, Kamara; Ekkelenkamp; Davis
Prediction
Both teams are hampered by absences and have struggled to hold onto leads this season. Udinese have lost four Serie A games after leading at halftime-a league high-while Juventus have dropped 23 points from winning positions. However, Juventus’ superior home form and greater motivation to secure a Champions League spot should see them edge out their mid-table visitors.
Prediction: Juventus 2-1 Udinese
