Chapter 200: The Early Summit Battle of Serie A

Chapter 200: The Early Summit Battle of Serie A

On the evening of January 26th, local Italian time, Udinese visited Empoli where goals from Di Natale and Widmer secured a victory against the Serie A blues. This was Di Natale's 14th Serie A goal of the season, just one behind Bruno Fernandes, who led with 15 goals. Di Natale's career Serie A goals now totaled 219, quickly surpassing Altfini and Giuseppe Meazza, and fast approaching Gunnar Nordahl in third place on the all-time Serie A scoring chart.

This victory ensured that Udinese could continue to lead Serie A by six points before their head-to-head matchup with Juventus.

On February 1st at 3 PM local time, a pivotal match of the 21st round of Serie A kicked off at the Friuli Stadium, with league leader Udinese facing second-placed Juventus. This match was seen by many media outlets as the decisive battle of the Serie A season, potentially determining the league champion.

With a six-point lead in the table, a victory for Udinese at home would extend their lead to nine points. Given Udinese's consistent performance this season, it would be very difficult for Juventus to close the gap.

Even a draw in this match would tilt the balance increasingly in Udinese's favor as the season progressed. However, if Juventus managed to win at the Friuli Stadium, they would reduce the gap to just three points, keeping their chances of overtaking Udinese alive. It was a match neither team wanted to lose.

Juventus could not afford another loss, while Udinese was equally determined, aiming to lift the top Italian league trophy for the first time in the club's history. However, this crucial battle came too soon, as it was only the 21st round of the Serie A season.

The pre-match news was favorable for Udinese; their key players were free from injuries or suspensions, allowing Coach Guidolin to field his strongest lineup. On the other side, Juventus would be without Marchisio due to suspension, and Vidal and Asamoah were out injured. Despite these absences, Juventus's squad depth meant these players' absences were not severely detrimental.

After Salah's arrival, Guidolin favored a 442 formation, pairing Di Natale with Salah upfront, supported by a diamond-shaped midfield, a setup he employed again for this game.

Juventus, under Allegri, adjusted to a three-man backline with Evra and Lichtsteiner on the wings. Roberto Pereyra faced his former team, partnering with Tevez and Llorente upfront.

In Udinese's home locker room, Guidolin threw the tactical board on the table, looked firmly at his players, and spoke slowly but with undeniable resolve, "I have only one demand for this match — win."

What? Udinese wants to win against Juventus?

Two years ago, such a statement would have provoked laughter, dismissing it as a ridiculous joke.

Udinese, a modest team from the Italian hinterlands with a century-long history devoid of a top league championship, versus Juventus, the dominant force with 30 league titles, nine Coppa Italia trophies, two Champions Leagues, three UEFA Cups, and one Cup Winners' Cup.

However, over the past two seasons, Guidolin's Udinese had caused a storm in Serie A, commanding respect with their excellent record.

Regardless of whether Udinese truly has the strength to pursue their first top league title, they are no longer seen as the underdogs. The most practical scenario now is that Juventus, initially favored to win the title this season, stands second with 47 points from 14 wins, 5 draws, and 1 loss, six points behind first-place Udinese. In their first encounter this season, Juventus was held to a draw at home by Udinese.

Last season, the two teams met four times in Serie A and the Europa League, with Udinese winning two, drawing one, and losing one — the loss being a strategic decision by Udinese.

Thus, it is entirely justified for Udinese to claim they can defeat Juventus, at least according to the media, who wouldn't find Guidolin's confidence to be arrogance.

As for the outcome, it's still uncertain. Pre-match media predictions were cautious and varied. Some believed Juventus's form made Udinese the favorites; others thought Juventus, despite recent struggles, had the strength to win away; while many anticipated a draw, considering the excellent form of Udinese and the enduring strength of Juventus, which showed signs of recovery.

Before the match, Juventus coach Allegri and Guidolin shook hands and exchanged pleasantries at the sideline, both appearing quite congenial. After praising each other's teams, they returned to their benches, their expressions turning serious as the game began.

Both teams were desperate for a victory. For Guidolin's Udinese, a win was necessary to maintain their lead in Serie A, while Juventus was equally eager to close the gap and prevent Udinese from pulling further ahead.

The stadium's big screen displayed the starting lineups for both teams, setting the stage for a clash of titans in Italian football.

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