Juve secured a very important victory in the race for Champions League qualification in their final home game of the season at the Allianz Stadium. The match finished 2-0, thanks to second half goals from Nico Gonzalez and Dusan Vlahovic. Igor Tudor's team showed solidity, patience and quality, managing the momentum of the match well and clinically choosing their moments to strike. Udinese showed great character in the first half, but paid for their inefficiency in front of goal and eventually fatigue set in during the second period.
Juventus controlled possession straight from the off. The Bianconeri started strongly, exploiting Andrea Cambiaso and Francisco Conceicao's pace out wide. In just the 8 minute, a beautiful combination ended with Manuel Locatelli shooting form the edge of the box: a right-footed strike that went just wide. Two minutes had passed before another good chance fell to Randal Kolo Muani, who took advantage of a gap in the centre of defence to bear down on goal, but he was denied by Maduka Okoye who came rushing out to meet him.
Udinese struggled to play out from the back, often penned in their own half. However, the visiting team showed defensive organisation and determination on the ball. In the 27th minute, Jurgen Ekkelenkamp shot from outside the area after a mistake by Conceicao, but Michele Di Gregorio comfortably saved the effort.
In the final minutes of the first half, Juve pushed on: first Cambiaso forced Okoye into a tricky save (34'), then Nico Gonzalez went close to scoring. It was in the 47th minute when the Argentine hit the post as he latched onto a rebound off the Udinese keeper. Juve remained on the attack as the half eventually came to an end, but the scoreline remained locked at 0-0.
The second half started in the same manner: Juventus applying pressure, Udinese dropping back. In the 52nd minute Conceicao went close to finding the opener with a right-footed shot that was just tipped wide by Okoye. The hosts had the momentum, and the goal finally arrived in the 61st minute: Nico Gonzalez received the ball in the area after a slick move, before sorting his feet out and beating the Udinese goalkeeper with a powerful, precise left-footed strike.
Udinese attempted a timid reaction through Keinan Davis in the 64th minute, but his shot was decisively blocked by Locatelli. From then on, Juve controlled the game with maturity, slowing the tempo of the match and retaining possession effectively.
Igor Tudor brought on reinforcements: Timothy Weah and Vlahovic came on in the 73rd minute to provide fresh impetus. In the 88th minute the knockout blow arrived: Vlahovic was picked out in the box, turned and unleashed a left-footed shot that slotted into the corner. 2-0, game over and the final league game of the season at the Allianz Stadium ends in celebration.
And now, it all comes down to the clash with Venezia.
Juventus: Di Gregorio, Alberto Costa, Veiga, Kelly, Cambiaso (72' Weah), McKennie (81' Douglas Luiz), Locatelli, Conceicao (90+2' Mbangula), Nico Gonzalez, Yildiz (90+2' Adzic), Kolo Muani (73' Vlahovic).
Unused Substitutes: Perin, Gatti, Pinsoglio, Turicchia, Rouhi, Gil.
Coach: Igor Tudor.