05 October 2018
BIANCONERI CONTINUE TO POWER ON
It’s Juve’s third game in a week, as they take on Udinese away from home, having faced Napoli and Young Boys on the previous Saturday and Wednesday respectively.
After defeating Napoli 3-1 last weekend, the Bianconeri had every reason to head into their game against Young Boys full of confidence and it didn’t take long for them to get on the scoresheet.
Paulo Dybala got on the end of Leonardo Bonucci’s long ball up-field to volley in a great goal after just five minutes. Dybala then got his and Juve’s second of the match on 33 minutes when Blaise Matuidi’s shot was parried into the path of La Joya, who could make no mistake from close range. Dybala wrapped up the points and his hat-trick just over 20 minutes from time, as some fine build-up play in the final third saw the Argentine meet Juan Cuadrado’s centre to make it 3-0 and secure his side's second victory in Group H.
UDINESE REVOLUTION
Udinese have shaken things up this summer with the arrival of Spanish coach, Julio Velazquez, replacing former Bianconero, Igor Tudor, who had taken the reins at the end of last season. Incomings included Rolando Mandragora from Juventus, Argentine striker Ignacio Pussetto and Nigerian defender William Troost-Ekong. Notable departures were goalkeepers Orestis Karnezis and Alex Meret to Napoli and midfielder Emil Halfredsson to Frosinone.
The Zebrette have had a mixed start to the season after notching two wins, two draws and three defeats. Last time out, they were beaten 2-1 away at Bologna, despite taking a 32nd-minute lead through Pussetto. Udinese were pegged back by a Federico Santander goal before half-time and then in the second half, Juventus-owned Riccardo Orsolini scored an 82nd-minute winner to send the Friuliani home with a loss.
LAST TIME VS UDINESE
Last year’s match away at Udinese proved to be something of a thriller! The home side took the lead after just eight minutes of play, when Stipe Perica opened the scoring, but that didn’t last long though as Juve levelled when Samir turned the ball into his own net. Sami Khedira put Juve ahead six minutes later with a bullet-header, before Mario Mandzukic was then sent off for two bookable offences in quick succession.
In the second half, Udinese equalised when Danilo found the back of the net on a set-play, but then Juve re-took the lead on a set-piece of their own, as Daniele Rugani headed in to make it 2-3 to La Vecchia Signora. Rugani then turned provider when he headed a ball down into the path of Khedira to finish. The German then went on to score a first-ever career hat-trick when he slotted home a low strike to make it 2-5, before Miralem Pjanic struck from distance to secure a final score of 2-6.
#UDINESEJUVE MATCH STATS
- Juventus are unbeaten in 13 out of their last 14 matches vs Udinese.
- The Bianconeri are currently undefeated away from home in the calendar year of 2018 (14 wins, three draws).
- For the first time in their history since the inception of the current Serie A, Juventus have won all of their opening nine games in all competitions.
- Udinese have used the least number of players so far in Serie A (17).
- Juve have the best attack in the first half-hour of play (six goals) whilst Udinese are one of just two teams, along with Fiorentina, yet to concede a goal in that period.
- The Bianconeri have had the most shots on goal (147) and conceded the least amount of shots (63) than any other team in Serie A.
- The Old Lady have made the most passes with 4,186, whilst they also boast the best accuracy (88.7%).
- Rodrigo De Paul has participated in six of Udinese’s eight league goals this term (four goals, two assists)
- Cristiano Ronaldo has had the most shots in Serie A with 54 (42 more than any other Juventus player).
- Miralem Pjanic has scored two goals and made one assist in his last four games against Le Zebrette.
