With numerous players potentially sporting a Juve jersey inside the Allianz Stadium for the very last time on Sunday evening, the Bianconeri turned on the style for their final home game this term.
Kenan Yildiz’s return from a two-match ban was capped by setting up both second-half goals for Nicolas Gonzalez and Dusan Vlahovic.
A tweaked 4-2-3-1 formation saw loanee Kolo Muani given a starting berth ahead of Vlahovic, who is expected to be cashed in during the summer. The pace and guile of Francisco Conceicao, Gonzalez and Yildiz behind a target man worked wonders.
From the first whistle Juventus bombarded the visitors, with even their defenders racing into the Udinese box in a bid to score.
Yet by half-time the Bianconeri still could find a way past ‘keeper Maduka Okoye. Andrea Cambiaso’s effort forced a terrific save just after the half-hour mark, but the shotstopper could only fumble Gonzalez’s strike in stoppage time that missed the target and struck the post.
Yet the interval scores from Serie A were promising for Juve, with none of the rivals for a top four finish leading. The opening 45 minutes saw AS Roma held 1-1 at home to AC Milan, who were down to 10 men midway through the half, Lazio were losing 1-0 at Scudetto-chasing Inter Milan and outsiders Bologna trailed 1-0 at Fiorentina.
Conceicao came close
Juventus continued where they left off after the turnaround, with a magnificent fingertip save from Okoye denying Conceicao’s rasping long-range shot that opened the second half.
Michele Di Gregorio was forced into rare action to deal with Jesper Karlstrom’s danger, with Udinese sorely missing their three top scorers this term including Juventus target Lorenzo Lucca.
The hosts continued to dominate with relentless attacks, and their endeavors finally paid off on 61 minutes through Gonzalez to send the home fans wild.
This breakthrough lifted Juve’s confidence, with the home supporters willing on more goals in the most attack-minded display on the Turin turf this calendar year.
Backs to the wall
The Udinese defensive trio of Christian Kabasele, Thomas Kristensen and Oumar Solet were earning their money as Juventus kept pushing to double their tally.
Tudor seemed to sense that there would be at least one more goal, so made a double substitution on 72 minutes. Timothy Weah replaced Cambiaso while Vlahovic was thrown on for Muani.
With time running out, and Udinese starting to show some belief that they could snatch an equaliser against the run of play, Juventus snatched another goal.
A swift break saw Yildiz set up Vlahovic, who made no mistake to drive the ball past helpless Okoye on 88 minutes. It was Vlahovic’s first strike since Tudor took the reins in late March.
Team spirit matters
Tudor explained at the post-match press conference: “I told the guys at the end of the first half that we just needed the goal, and that we had to continue playing in the same way because the goal would come.
“I saw a lot of team spirit today, but also a lot of quality. We had many clear-cut chances, today we also showed the quality of our play.
“The boost from the fans in this stadium is important, it's nice to finish the last home game of the season with a good win. We won an important game, now we just need one last result in the next game [to qualify for the Champions League].”
Juve fans celebrated with aplomb inside the Allianz Stadium, and now fourth-placed Juventus they can clinch involvement in next season’s Champions League by beating Venezia next Sunday.
Bologna blown out
Bologna dropped out of the race for a top four finish after losing 3-2 at Fiorentina, former Juve striker Moise Kean scored an 84th-minute winner.
Lazio and Roma remain in the mix to secure Champions League soccer, should Juve slip up at Venezia. Claudio Ranieri’s side saw off Milan 3-1, while a 90th-minute Pedro penalty earned Lazio a precious point at Inter.
Inter now trail table-topping Napoli, who were held to a scoreless draw by lowly Parma, by a single point with one more game left this term.
Juventus: Di Gregorio; Alberto Costa, Veiga, Kelly, Cambiaso (Weah, 72); McKennie (Luiz, 81), Locatelli; Gonzalez; Conceicao (Mbangula, 92), Yildiz (Adzic. 92); Muani (Vlahovic. 72). Subs: Perin, Gatti, Pinsoglio, Turicchia, Rouhi, Gil.