11 September 2014
After brushing Livorno aside with a 2-0 win at Juventus Stadium eight days earlier, the Bianconeri overcame Udinese by the same scoreline to regain their eight-point lead over Roma at the summit of Serie A on 14 April.
With a 100 per cent league record at home, Antonio Conte’s side were looking to notch an impressive 12th success on the road as the season crept into its crucial stage.
Udinese started the game brightly and Antonio Di Natale tested Gigi Buffon early on with a free-kick that cleared the crossbar - but it was the reigning champions who would stamp their authority on proceedings thanks to Sebastian Giovinco’s opener.
The Atomic Ant found himself on the edge of the box and, with no obvious pass on, expertly created a yard of space before curling an exquisite left-footed shot past the despairing dive of Simone Scuffet with 16 minutes played.
GOAL! #UdineseJuve 0-1. #Giovinco picks the ball up on the edge of the area, cuts inside and curls a delicious strike into the far corner!
— JuventusFC (@juventusfcen) April 14, 2014
The Bianconeri had their tails up and Giovinco was at it again soon after, exchanging passes with Andrea Pirlo from a short corner before fizzing his effort towards goal only for Scuffet to tip it round the post.
From the resulting set-piece, it was two. After a brief bout of pinball caused chaos in the Udinese box, the ball arrived at the feet of Fernando Llorente who slid his shot into an empty net to double the Bianconeri’s lead before the half-time interval.
GOAL! #UdineseJuve 0-2. @llorentefer19 is on hand to sweep home from a matter of yards following a Juve corner! The visitors are two up!
— JuventusFC (@juventusfcen) April 14, 2014
The start of the second-half saw Juventus pick up where they left off as an inspired Giovinco attempted to add to his opener. After lashing wide with a long-range attempt, the diminutive forward then saw his right-footed effort bounce off the base of the post after some fine work from Giorgio Chiellini.
The striker was replaced by Mirko Vucinic midway through the second-half, leaving the field to a rousing reception from the travelling Juventus faithful following a man-of-the-match performance.
As the clock ticked down towards the final whistle, Udinese fashioned two chances of their own, Maurizio Domizzi firing wide before Luis Muriel’s attempt cannoned back off Buffon’s post into the danger area only to be cleared by the Bianconeri backline.
The win lifted Conte's men on to 87 points, the total which brought them the 2012/13 Serie A title, and there were still five games to play.
Tonight's 2-0 #UdineseJuve win is our twelfth away from home in @SerieA_TIM this season. How do you think it ranks alongside the others?
— JuventusFC (@juventusfcen) April 14, 2014
During the post-match interviews, the goalscorers both had their say on a gargantuan three points at the Stadio Friuli.
#Giovinco: “It’s an important victory but not a decisive one. The Scudetto isn’t in the bag.” #UdineseJuve
— JuventusFC (@juventusfcen) April 14, 2014
.@llorentefer19 on #UdineseJuve: "It was a decisive game and an important one for us to win. We’re happy and the games keep ticking down."
— JuventusFC (@juventusfcen) April 14, 2014
Martin Caceres also gave his thoughts on another important victory for the Old Lady, urging them to keep their feet on the ground and train all their thoughts on crossing the finish line.
#Caceres: "There are still five games remaining, we're getting closer but still haven't won anything." #UdineseJuve
— JuventusFC (@juventusfcen) April 14, 2014
The Uruguayan was right. The Bianconeri may not have won the league yet but it was only a matter of time before they established themselves once again as Serie A champions for the 32nd occasion.
