Juventus can record a comfortable victory over Udinese on Sunday evening

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With Inter Milan playing on Saturday night, Juventus will go into Sunday’s match with Udinese, either eight points behind their rivals, and desperately needing a win to keep their title hopes alive, or else five or six points behind, with an excellent chance to gain some ground on the league leaders.

Whatever the result on Saturday, it is therefore clear that Juventus’ clash with Udinese is a must win for the Turin side. They are a best-priced 1/2 (SkyBet), and should be capable of rewarding punters who back them to gain all three points.

Udinese are without influential forward Antonio Di Natale, who is suspended for Sunday’s trip to the Stadio Olimpico. The Italian international has scored nine of his side’s sixteen league goals this season, and without him Udinese would struggle against any side in the division, let alone title chasing Juve.

Udinese are 15/2 (StanJames) to win in Turin, or 10/3 (StanJames) to emerge on Sunday night with an unlikely point, but realistically, punters looking for value on the game would be better backing the home side to beat their opponents by two or more goals (119/100, Bet365) or else to win to nil (7/5, Bluesq) as it should be a routine victory for Ciro Ferrara’s side.

Juventus welcome back captain Alessandro Del Piero (9/2, Bet365) who should partner the in-form Amauri (4/1, SkyBet) in attack. Brazilian duo Diego (5/1, Bet365) and Felipe Melo (14/1, Bluesq) are beginning to form an impressive central midfield partnership, and will look to dominate possession, and dictate the game’s tempo.

Juventus suffered a demoralising three-two defeat to Lazio in their previous home fixture, losing a game they should have won after building up a two goal lead. Their reaction, however, was good, and Atalanta were brushed aside five-two the next week.

The side are in a rich vein of goal-scoring form, with twelve goals in their last three games. Udinese do not possess anything like the best defence in the league, and the game should go over 2.5 goals (8/11, SkyBet), although punters should be wary of a two-nil home win, which is a 6/1 (SkyBet) shot.

Recommendation

Asian Handicap (-1.5 Goals) – Juventus (119/100, Bet365)