Juventus vs. Udinese | Serie A | Pre Match
Juventus vs. Udinese
As the 2024-25 Serie A season hurtles toward its conclusion, Juventus, precariously perched in fourth place, host Udinese at the Allianz Stadium in Turin on Sunday for their final home game, a match that could prove decisive in their quest to secure a Champions League spot. With 64 points, Juventus are locked in a nerve-wracking battle for the top four, level with fifth-placed Lazio, just one point ahead of sixth-placed Roma, and two points clear of seventh-placed Bologna, the Coppa Italia winners. The tight margins in this race underscore the importance of every point, particularly as Juventus grapple with a season defined by an unprecedented number of draws—16, one shy of their all-time record from 1955-56. Last week’s dramatic 1-1 draw against Lazio, where Pierre Kalulu’s red card cost them a potential three-point cushion after Randal Kolo Muani’s goal had put them on course for victory, encapsulated their frustrating campaign. Under interim head coach Igor Tudor, Juventus have shown resilience, particularly at home, where they have won seven of their last eight Serie A matches, and Tudor himself boasts an unblemished record in Turin. Facing a mid-table Udinese side that has little left to play for, Juventus are favored to leverage their historical dominance—winning 12 of their last 15 league encounters against the Friulani—and take a crucial step toward Champions League qualification. For Udinese, under Kosta Runjaic, the match offers a chance to cap a stable season with a rare upset, building on their curious knack for winning their final away game in five of the past seven years.
Juventus’s position in the top-four race is both a testament to their enduring quality and a reflection of the challenges that have plagued their season. The Bianconeri’s 16 draws, a statistic that has frustrated fans and players alike, highlight their struggle to convert promising performances into victories, a flaw that was painfully evident in their stoppage-time collapse against Lazio. Despite this, their home form has been a beacon of consistency, with seven wins in their last eight Serie A home games, a stark improvement from the seven draws in their previous nine. Tudor, who has yet to lose a home match since taking charge, stands on the cusp of joining an elite group of Juventus managers—Max Allegri in 2014 and Maurizio Sarri in 2019—who won their first four home fixtures in the last 50 years. This historical precedent, combined with Juventus’s formidable record against Udinese, where they have averaged 2.3 goals per game across their last 15 league meetings, bodes well for their prospects. However, the absence of key players due to injuries and suspensions poses a significant challenge. The loss of center-backs Bremer, Juan Cabal (both with ACL injuries), Lloyd Kelly, and Andrea Cambiaso (thigh injury), alongside the suspensions of Pierre Kalulu (two matches for violent conduct) and Nicolo Savona, forces Tudor to reconfigure his defense. Captain Manuel Locatelli may need to drop back from midfield, where Khephren Thuram is also suspended, further depleting Juventus’s options. On a positive note, the return of Kenan Yildiz and the availability of top scorer Dusan Vlahovic, who could reclaim his starting spot from the in-form Randal Kolo Muani, provide attacking firepower. Kolo Muani, with seven Serie A goals since his January debut, has been a revelation, trailing only Mateo Retegui (10 goals) in that period, and his battle for the starting role adds intrigue to Juventus’s lineup decisions. Tudor’s ability to navigate these absences while maintaining the team’s momentum at home will be crucial, as a victory could provide the buffer needed to fend off their top-four rivals in the final round.
Udinese, by contrast, approach this match with the relative luxury of a pressure-free mid-table position, having secured safety weeks ago under Runjaic’s steady guidance. This stability marks a significant improvement from last season’s nail-biting final-day escape, allowing the Friulani to play with freedom as they drift toward the season’s end. Their 2-1 loss to Monza last weekend, despite Lorenzo Lucca ending his goal drought, highlighted their inconsistency, as a 90th-minute concession dashed hopes of a top-half finish. Sitting four points behind 10th-placed Como, who have emerged as Italy’s form side, Udinese’s aspirations are now limited to finishing the campaign on a positive note. Their historical struggles against Juventus—scoring just one goal in their last six meetings and suffering five defeats—suggest a daunting task, though their 1-0 victory at the Allianz Stadium in February 2023 offers a glimmer of hope. Udinese’s remarkable record of scoring in their last 24 away matches, and winning their final away game in five of the past seven seasons, adds an element of unpredictability. Runjaic’s squad, however, is not without its challenges. The suspensions of key striker Lorenzo Lucca and midfielder Arthur Atta, combined with Florian Thauvin’s ongoing foot injury, weaken their attacking options, likely leaving Keinan Davis to lead the line alone. Defensively, Udinese are bolstered by Oumar Solet, a mid-season signing who has completed 24 dribbles and won possession the second-most times among Serie A defenders this year, forming a robust backline alongside Thomas Kristensen and the much-coveted Jaka Bijol. Runjaic’s task is to organize his depleted squad to withstand Juventus’s attacking onslaught while capitalizing on any defensive lapses, a strategy that proved effective in their previous upset in Turin.
The tactical and emotional dynamics of this match are shaped by the contrasting stakes for each team. For Juventus, securing a Champions League spot is not just a matter of prestige but a financial necessity, providing the resources to rebuild a squad that has been ravaged by injuries and hampered by inconsistency. The tight race for fourth place, with four teams separated by just two points, amplifies the pressure on Tudor, whose interim tenure could be defined by this final home performance. The potential return of Vlahovic, whose physical presence and goal-scoring instincts could exploit Udinese’s depleted attack, and the emergence of Kolo Muani as a dynamic scoring threat, give Juventus the tools to overpower their opponents. However, the makeshift defense, potentially featuring Locatelli out of position, risks being exposed by Udinese’s counter-attacking threat, particularly if Davis capitalizes on his physicality. For Udinese, the match is an opportunity to play the role of spoiler, disrupting Juventus’s ambitions while showcasing their progress under Runjaic. Solet’s defensive contributions and Bijol’s aerial prowess will be critical in containing Juventus’s attack, but the absence of Lucca and Thauvin limits their ability to sustain pressure. Runjaic’s pragmatic approach, likely emphasizing defensive solidity and quick transitions, will aim to frustrate Juventus and exploit any fatigue or nervousness in the hosts’ ranks.
The broader implications of this match resonate beyond the immediate result. For Juventus, a Champions League berth would signal a return to Europe’s elite, restoring confidence in a fanbase frustrated by years of underachievement and providing a platform for Tudor—or his successor—to build a competitive squad. Failure to secure fourth place, however, could intensify scrutiny on the club’s management and raise questions about their ability to navigate the post-Allegri era. For Udinese, a positive result would cap a season of consolidation, affirming Runjaic’s impact and setting a positive tone for the future, particularly if they can retain talents like Bijol amid transfer speculation. The historical context of Juventus’s dominance, juxtaposed with Udinese’s occasional upsets, adds intrigue, but the current form and stakes tilt the balance heavily in Juventus’s favor. As the Allianz Stadium prepares to host this critical encounter, the clash between two Bianconeri sides—one fighting for glory, the other for pride—promises to encapsulate the drama and intensity of Serie A’s final stretch, with Juventus poised to edge closer to their Champions League dream.
