The Bianconeri welcome Udinese to the Stadio Olimpico on Sunday and they will be looking to get into full swing and take maximum points against a Friulani side who will be full of confidence.Serie A has enjoyed a break from the week to week tussles following the recent World Cup Qualifiers but Claudio Ranieri will ensure his side get back down to business as they attempt to pick up their first win of the season. The coach was furious after the week one draw with Fiorentina. Pavel Nedved’s goal in the first half seemed to have done the trick until Alberto Gilardino popped up to steal a point for his team.
Ranieri described his players as a bunch of children following that game but Juventus have always been formidable at home and they will be looking to rule the roost. Expectations are high at Vinovo and there is an air of belief that the Tricolore will be ironed on the club's jerseys next season but Juve need to start kicking themselves into action and there will be no better place to start than with a home game against Pasquale Marino’s men.
This fixture ended in a 1-0 defeat for the Turin-based side last term but plenty has changed since then. Giorgio Chiellini has matured, Nicola Legrottaglie is a different player and Olof Mellberg was captured to help ease the pressure at the back. Momo Sissoko, David Trezeguet and Cristiano Zanetti have all returned from injury but Alessandro Del Piero, Mauro Camoranesi, Vincenzo Iaquinta and Legrottaglie may be rested following their international exploits with La Nazionale.
It will be a tricky fixture for Ranieri’s team but he will be glad to get it out of the way now than have it hang around until the mid season when the race for the Scudetto and Champions League football begin to take their toll. A win is needed if they are to lay down the foundations for a successful campaign but Udinese will be no pushovers.
Udinese Look To Di Natale
The Stadio Friuli-based club need to give themselves a pat on the back for keeping the Italian international this summer. Like many sides, they could have sold Di Natale to the big guns and make money hand over fist, instead they offered him a new deal until 2012 and that gamble has paid off for both club and player.
The Number 10 fired his side to the perfect start in the opening game of the season against Palermo in round one. The Napolitan-born hit-man grabbed a superb double and set one up as his side strolled to a good win over the Sicilians, as well as prove the point that they will be challenging for the Champions League places this term.
Di Natale was outstanding during that game and he earned himself a starting role for Marcello Lippi’s Italy side for the World Cup qualifier against Cyprus. He rescued the Azzurri in Larnaca and he will be hoping to do the same when he returns to action for Udinese on Sunday.
The burning question around the Peninsula is why Roberto Donadoni didn’t play him during the European Championships.
However, it’s not all about Di Natale as Fabio Quagliarella will be out to make his point against the Old Lady. A debut is also in store for Maurizio Domizzi and he will be eager to prove himself to his new manager Pasquale Marino who showed faith in the stopper by bringing him to the Friuli.
The Champions League is on everybody’s lips in Udine and the club will be pushing hard to reach their objective. The side will be confident in their ability to go to Turin and cause another upset following last season’s victory there and they will be relying on the littlest Toto' Di Natale.
Form Guide
Juventus
31 Aug Fiorentina 1-1 Juventus
26 Aug Artmedia 1-1 Juventus
22 Aug Juventus-Napoli 0-0 Juve win 5-4 on Penalties
22 Aug Juventus-Milan 0-0 Juve win 5-4 on Penalties
13 Aug Juventus 4-0 Artmedia
Udinese
30 Aug Udinese 3-1 Palermo
24 Aug Espanyol 1-0 Udinese
22 Aug Villarreal 0-1 Udinese
7 Aug Udinese 1-3 Paok
25 July Udinese 0-3 Athletic Bilbao
Team News
Juventus: David Trezeguet, Cristiano Zanetti and Giorgio Chiellini have all returned from injury. Chiellini is ready for the game on Sunday but he may be rested with the Champions League in mind. Up front, Ranieri has all his strikers available though Iaquinta and Del Piero are likely to be benched with Amauri and Trezeguet to start. Jorge Andrade remains the long term casualty.
Udinese: Christian Zapata and Dias Felipe are unavailable for Marino but the usual suspects will be fighting for a place. The in-form Di Natale is likely to get the nod to play alongside Quagliarella.
Players To Watch
Juventus
Amauri: The Brazilian striker failed to get off the mark against Fiorentina despite having a number of chances. He will be hoping to grab a couple against Udinese as he sets out to prove himself with one of Italy’s greatest sides. Many have tipped him to end the season as Serie A’s top scorer but he needs to start firing.
Udinese
Di Natale: The prolific hit-man has scored four goals in three games for club and country and he will be the danger man for his side in Turin. The Juve backline will need to keep him shackled if they are to avoid a shock result. His pace and trickery on the ball is world-class and he is likely to cause the Old Lady a headache on Sunday.
Probable Starting XI's
Juventus: Buffon, Grygera, Molinaro, Legrottaglie, Mellberg, Sissoko, Nanetti, Nedved, Camoranesi, Trezeguet, Amauri.
Udinese: Handanovic, Motta, Coda, Domizzi, Pasquale, Inler, D'Agostino, Isla, Pepe, Quagliarella, Di Natale.
Prediction
With both teams in good form, this game will be no easy feat for either.
The Old Lady has made the Olimpico her fortress but she will remember the game from last season when it ended 1-0 to the Friulani. Confidence is high in both camps but a share of the points seems on the cards.
Juventus 2-2 Udinese
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