Massimiliano Allegri kicked off his Juventus tenure with a victory away at Chievo Verona on the opening day of the season. It wasn't exactly a convincing win, with an early own goal from Cristiano Biraghi the difference between the title holders and the Flying Donkeys.
Juventus vs. Udinese: Time, TV schedule and game preview
Both Juventus and Udinese started their Serie A campaigns with victories. They clash in Turin on Saturday.
However, a win is a win, and the bianconeri will be looking to build up some momentum by picking up three further points at home to Udinese on Saturday. They certainly shouldn't be expecting an easy task, with the zebrette having started life under new boss Andrea Stramaccioni with a 2-0 win last weekend -- though that admittedly came against the newly-promoted Empoli.
Key player - Antonio Di Natale (Udinese)
Udinese's 36-year-old captain Antonio Di Natale announced his retirement last season, only to reverse his decision a few months later. We're only a game into the new season, and already he has been vindicated. The striker scored both goals in Udinese's victory over Empoli, and looks set to be as integral a part of the first team this season than ever. He's no longer as nippy as he once was, but he's still a deadly finisher and boasts a predatory movement that ensure's he's still a massive goal threat. Udinese may well struggle to cope when he finally does hang up his boots.
Key matchup - Juventus’ makeshift midfield vs. Udinese’s midfield
Injuries to both Andrea Pirlo and Arturo Vidal mean Juventus will probably be without two-thirds of their best midfield trio against Udinese, with Claudio Marchisio set to take Pirlo's deep-lying playmaking role, and former Udinese man Roberto Pereyra likely to slot into Vidal's industrious box-to-box position. Fortunately, Juve do have Paul Pogba -- who's good enough to almost single-handedly win games when at his best -- but this game will undoubtedly be a big test of the bianconeri's depth in the centre of the field.
Juventus injuries and suspensions
Out: Andrea Barzagli, Álvaro Morata, Andrea Pirlo (injured); Giorgio Chiellini (suspended). In doubt: Arturo Vidal.
Udinese injuries and suspensions
Out: Gabriel Silva, Simone Scuffet, Giovanni Pasquale (injured). In doubt: Maurizio Domizzi.
It’s not just in midfield that Juventus are looking light, but in defence too: regular first-teamers Andrea Barzagli and Giorgio Chiellini are out though injury and suspension respectively. Meanwhile, striker Álvaro Morata will have to wait a while longer to make his Serie A debut, after making the move from Real Madrid in the summer.
Udinese wing-back Gabriel Silva -- who was the star of last season’s difficult campaign -- is sidelined through injury, as is wonderkid goalkeeper Simone Scuffet and rotation midfielder Giovanni Pasquale. however, they’re hoping to have defender Maurizio Domizzi fit to play after a muscular problem.
Match Date/Time: Saturday, 8:45 p.m. local, 2:45 p.m. ET
Venue: Juventus Stadium, Turin, Italy
TV: RAI International (U.S. and Canada - Italian), BT Sport 1 (U.K.), Premium Calcio (Italy)
Online: BT Sport 1 (U.K.), Sky Go Italia (Italy)
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