Just a few seasons ago, Udinese was battling it out with the league's "bigger" sides for a European football spot--and in doing so, keeping someone from enjoying Champions or Europa League football for the following campaign. This season, though, is their first without any kind of continental competition since the 2010-2011 season. Currently, the Zebrette sit in ninth place, which interestingly, due to the congestion in the middle of the table, does not rule them out of potentially clinching a Europa League berth for the upcoming campaign.
However, their form this season has been frustratingly inconsistent, especially as far as their fans are concerned. Andrea Stramaccioni's men finally won their first game of this year after grinding out a 2-1 victory against a resolute Empoli side who after drawing level, were doing all they could to hold out for a point, but ended up losing key midfielder Panagiotis Kone to a red card and subsequent three-match ban in the process.
Their visitors, though, have been in good form and are enjoying a seven point lead at the top of the Serie A table. As a result, there are some Italian football followers who have already decided that the Scudetto race is done and dusted and Juventus might as well be handed their fourth consecutive league crown. Yet, there are many more matches to play, and despite Roma hitting snag after snag with each frustrating draw, certainly, Massimiliano Allegri's team would want to further extend their lead so as to be eventually able to turn their attentions to their other competitions this season.
Allegri, though, will have to do without midfield duo Claudio Marchisio and Arturo Vidal, with the Italian missing out due to suspension and the Chilean suffering from another knee injury, so one can expect to see some definite changes in personnel and likely formation for this match.
Paul Pogba is one that viewers will certainly want to keep their eye on. The French international has been on a hot streak as of late and continues to show why he is widely regarded among the best young talents in the game today. With his future in Turin constantly up for speculation, Bianconeri fans are definitely hoping to enjoy watching the former Manchester United man play in Italy for as long as feasible.
The evergreen Antonio Di Natale has been doing what he does best and currently is again his team's leading scorer. Udinese supporters are hoping to see Toto finally what he has not done in several years--that is, to score against Juventus.
In this interesting clash of the teams who both sport the Bianconeri jersey, who will come out on top? Feel free to tune in to find out.
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