Juventus will hope to put their last-gasp Supercoppa Italiana defeat behind them when they welcome Udinese to the Allianz Stadium in this clash of the Bianconeri.
There were chaotic scenes on and off the pitch as the Old Lady lost the Supercoppa to rivals Inter at the death, but Max Allegri needs to get his players refocused on their push up the Serie A table. Juve enter this contest unbeaten in their last seven league games going back to late November, winning five of those to rise to fifth place.
Whereas their hosts are only three points off the top-four places as it stands, the visiting Udinese are only four points clear of the relegation zone. However, I Friulani have two games in hand over most of the teams below them, as they go in search of their first victory away to Juventus since August 2015. They are one of the most severely hit Serie A clubs by COVID as they currently have nine players who have tested positive, but the club hasn’t named them.
Form Guide: Juventus (W D W W D) Udinese (L W D L D)
Stat fact: Udinese have only won one of their last 11 away games against Juventus, losing on all 10 of the other occasions. Juve have scored 28 goals across those 10 victories, conceding just five at the other end.
Probable line-ups
Juventus (4-2-3-1): Szczęsny; Cuadrado, Rugani, De Ligt, Alex Sandro; Locatelli, Bentancur, McKennie; Dybala, Bernardeschi; Morata.
Suspended: None.
Injured: Bonucci, Chiesa, Ramsey, Danilo
On a yellow card: Danilo, Locatelli, Bernardeschi
Udinese (3-4-2-1): Silvestri; Perez, Nuytinck, Zeegelar; Molina, Makengo, Walace, Udogie; Pussetto, Deulofeu; Beto.
Suspended: Rodrigo Becao
Injured: Jajalo, Pereyra, Samardzic, Nestorovski, Makengo, Arslan
On a yellow card: Walace, Deulofeu