Danilo grabs winner as Juve make it eight in a row against Udinese

The Juventus world bid farewell to Gianluca Vialli before kick-off at the Allianz Stadium through the words of Gianluca Pessotto.

The minute’s silence touched the heart of the fans inside the ground as both Vialli and Ernesto Castano were both remembered before the match against Udinese.

THE MATCH

Juventus welcomed World Cup winner Ángel Di María back to the line-up as Massimiliano Allegri made five changes from the starting XI from the midweek win over Cremonese.

Although experiencing a winless run after being one of the early season trail blazers, Udinese were no pushovers. Their physical brand of football was always going to keep a tight lid on proceedings. 

That said, both goalkeepers were called into action twice in the first half. First Wojciech Szczęsny on 18 minutes held out Walace after the Udinese midfielder had won a header from one of the visitors’ many first half corners. A minute later, it was a Bianconeri set piece that almost provided the game’s opening goal. Daniele Rugani reached Di María’s free-kick delivery but his header from six-yards out was prodigiously tipped wide by Marco Silvestri.

The Udinese keeper produced another excellent save to thwart Juve after their first example of flowing football in the first 45 minutes. Fabio Miretti and Di María linked up before the Argentine fed the ball into the path of Moise Kean. The striker’s angled shot was blocked by Silverstri.

The last chance before the break forced a reflex save from Szczęsny to keep out Walace again.

The Bianconeri showed more urgency at the restart. Di María and Adrien Rabiot were supplying the cut and thrust from midfield. One such move saw the Frenchman deliver a pass to Miretti in the area, but the teenager was dispossessed before he could shoot. Rabiot again was involved two minutes later with a cross that went close to finding its way into the net.

Just as he had done against Cremonese, Allegri brought on Leandro Paredes and Federico Chiesa to increase forward momentum.

However, chances were few and far between but Juve had been making it a positive habit of grabbing late goals. And so it was to be again.

With less than five minutes of normal time on the clock, Paredes played through Chiesa, who from the heart of the penalty area delivered a pass into the six yard area. Waiting to apply the finishing touch was Danilo. The captain on the night placed the ball high into the net. Again a solitary goal was enough for all three points.

Eight wins in a row. Eight wins without a goal conceded. Next week Juve travel to league leaders Napoli.