Udinese will host Juventus at the 'Friuli' on Saturday afternoon for the 26th matchday of Serie A.
The home side is having an excellent season with the team being a point above Inter and three points away from the Champions League spot, currently occupied by Lazio and Parma.
Juventus, on the other hand, have just been through the worst week of the Lippi second era in which the bianconeri were eliminated from the Champions League, handed the Scudetto to Milan and last Wednesday the team lost 2-0 the first leg of the Coppa Italia which was their last chance for silverware this season.
Udinese have not won in their last three league games, as they obtained just 2 draws and a loss. However Lazio, Parma and Inter's slow movement has left Spalletti's squad still in the Uefa Cup zone and with an outside chance for the Champions League spot.
Lippi's squad has lost the 3 last games in all competiitons, thus a win is a must. If the Scudetto seems out of reach, the second place, which means automatic qualificaiton for the Champions League, is just two points away. This means that Juventus still have a lot to play for up tiill the end of the season, and even though the injured players list is still long, Lippi can still count on the character and fighting spirit shown by his side in the first half of both Milan and Lazio games.
PROBABLE FORMATIONS:
Udinese (3-4-2-1): De Sanctis; Bertotto, Kroldrup, Felipe; Alberto, Pinzi, Pizarro, Jankulovski; Castroman, Jorgensen; Iaquinta
Juventus (4-4-1-1): Buffon; Ferrara, Tudor, Legrottaglie, Pessotto; Camoranesi, Maresca, Tacchinardi, Appiah; Nedved; Trezeguet
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