Juventus recorded as comfortable a win as they've had all season on Monday, downing Udinese 2-0 to extend their lead at the top of the Serie A table to eight points. Though the final scoreline wasn't especially remarkable, the league leaders were in total control from the first whistle to the last, and were never troubled by their underwhelming hosts after two early goals from Sebastian Giovinco and Fernando Llorente.
Udinese vs. Juventus: Final score 0-2, Juve cruise to comfortable victory
Juventus never had to step out of first gear as they cruised to a 2-0 win away at Udinese, extending their lead at the top of the Serie A table to eight points.
Dino Panato
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Antonio Conte elected to rest both Arturo Vidal and Carlos Tévez with a Europa League semifinal against Benfica on the horizon, and initially Juve seemed to lack an offensive thrust against a disciplined Udinese. That was until Giovinco netted an opening goal from nowhere inside 20 minutes in, when he found a pocket of space on the edge of the box and curled the ball inside Simone Scuffet's far post.
The Atomic Ant nearly scored again within ten minutes, though this time the young goalkeeper was equal to the attempt. Unfortunately Udinese's resistance ended on the ensuing corner, as Llorente prodded the ball into an empty net after a goalmouth scramble. The zebrette offered nothing going forward whatsoever, and Juventus were cruising as they left the field at halftime. Gianluigi Buffon literally hadn't had a save to make.
The second half picked up where the first had left off, with Juve never having to step out of first gear. Despite missing a couple of their star players, they were always in total control, even without ever seriously putting Udinese’s defence under any great duress. Save for Giovinco’s angled drive against the post with just over 20 minutes remaining, the visitors were content to knock the ball around in midfield and run the clock down.
Udinese almost netted a consolation through substitute Luis Muriel in stoppage time, though the Colombian scuffed his effort against the post from a tight angle. It was another miserable day in a disappointing season for Francesco Guidolin's side.
Udinese: Scuffet; Domizzi, Danilo, Heurtaux; Gabriel Silva, Yebda (Muriel 70'), Allan, Pereyra, Basta; Fernandes; Di Natale (López 79').
Juventus: Buffon; Chiellini, Ogbonna, Cáceres; Asamoah, Marchisio, Pirlo, Pogba, Lichtsteiner (Isla 75’); Giovinco (Vučinić 82’), Llorente (Osvaldo 85’).
Goals: Giovinco (16’), Llorente (26’).
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