Juventus fell to a 1-0 reversal in their midweek meeting with the La Liga leaders, yet it was down to the resilience of outstanding shotshopper Michele Di Gregorio that they came away from the Spanish capital with such a respectable result.
Juventus were solid at the start of each half, but lacked the clear cut chances to trouble their hosts although during stoppage time almost snatched an equalizer.
With Juve having failed to score in their past three games, and on a winless run of seven matches, things are getting tetchy between Tudor and the club hierarchy. There's also signs of unrest with the players, and the last time that happened at the Turin titans they seemed to down tools with the then manager Thiago Motta given the boot.
Tudor, who favors a back row of three, had instructed his team to defend at Madrid's cauldron of the
Bernabeu. Frequently there were six players in the box ahead of overworked Di Gregorio.
Vlahovic and Yildiz add sizzle
Their midfield engine was vastly improved by the second half arrival of Locatelli. Tudor's strange decision to haul off Barcelona targets Vlahovic and Yildiz with quarter-of-an-hour to go, replacing the duo with misfiring strikers Lois Openda and Jonathan David, reiterated that the head coach has not got a clue about winning games.
Tudor's bizarre second half switches have coincided with their lack of fluidity and dismal run. He has until the next international break, which kicks off in the second week of November, to find the winning formula or be shown the exit door.
Second choice Tudor was meant to be the cheaper option for Juventus, but it was an uninspired appointment for a manager who has a poor track record of only short stints. It was false economy opting for the one-time Juventus defender.
At least if the Croatian is axed and Vlahovic leaves, the striker's loyalty bonus will cover the compensation for Tudor. While bringing back Motta, who the club are continuing to pay since sacking him in March, would save thrifty Juve from simultaneously forking out big bucks on three managers.
Cassano supportive of Bianconeri boss
Former AC Milan and Inter Milan marksman Cassano told Viva el Futbol: “Igor Tudor is great. A great person, a great coach, a great communicator. He has a great personality, and I'm on his side [against media criticism].”
Yet the 39-capped Italian appeared to see the Champions League clash through rose-tinted glasses as he added: “At the Bernabeu, he showed that he played a great match, in a world class stadium. He could have scored a couple of goals, he could have conceded, he played the game brilliantly.
“Juve played a great 65 minutes, they attacked, they had space to attack. But then when they finished, they don't have Juve caliber players.
"What kind of players does Juve play with? It's not the coach's fault, he's trying to get what he can out of them. With a team like that, Tudor is the best coach right now. The one who can keep the ship afloat."
Tudor to tackle ex-Juve boss Sarri
Tudor gets a shot to turn things around when he takes his troops to the Italian capital to take on Lazio this Sunday, who are coached by former Juventus boss Maurizio Sarri.
Lazio have failed to score in three of their past five Serie A matches, and drawn their last two games, so Sarri requires a change in fortunes for his side who lie a disappointing 12th.
Tudor will survive being given the chop should Juve falter inside the Stadio Olimpico as there are three games in quick succession before they meet Turin rivals Torino.
The visit of Udinese (29 October) followed by a trip to newly-promoted Cremonese (1 November) are matches that Juventus would usually expect to win without difficulties. If the dressing room is not supportive of Tudor, then there could be a repeat of the hefty back-to-back defeats that signalled the beginning of the end for Motta.
Sporting Lisbon next for Juventus
Sporting Lisbon take on the Bianconeri in Turin (4 November) for the fourth Champions League encounter, before Juve host struggling Torino (8 November) ahead of the two-week international break.
Tudor needs to win matches, but to do so requires goals. Both have dried up and despite Cassano's claims, Juventus are a club in crisis because of the manager's tactical approach.
There is an ever increasing list of candidates to take over the reins of such a prestigious club as Juve, but a safe pair of hands rather than another gamble is urgently required. Motta made a marvelous start to life in Turin, while drab displays under Tudor garnered the points to secure Champions League soccer this term.
Winning used to be everything for Juventus, it is part of their DNA. Yet not losing was something that Motta championed at both Bologna and the Bianconeri, while single-minded Tudor is also content to avoid defeat that was highlighted by their encounter at Madrid.