Juventus Claim Critical 2-0 Win Over Udinese in Serie A

Nicolás González and Dušan Vlahović scored as Juventus defeated Udinese 2-0, boosting their Champions League hopes. Read the match report.

Juventus secured a crucial 2-0 victory over Udinese, solidifying their position in fourth place in Serie A and strengthening their chances of qualifying for the UEFA Champions League next season.

The match was a closely contested affair, with both teams displaying determination in the early stages. However, Udinese's Hassane Kamara was quickly booked after a harsh challenge just three minutes in, and teammate Sandi Lovric soon followed him to the book, as the visitors tried to disrupt Juventus' rhythm. Despite having nothing at stake in the league, Udinese put up a spirited performance, but ultimately fell short against the Bianconeri.

Midway through the first half, Juventus dominated possession, boasting an impressive 81% pass completion rate. Kenan Yildiz and Francisco Conceição were particularly active, limiting Udinese's opportunities to launch counterattacks. When Udinese did venture forward, Lloyd Kelly and Renato Veiga effectively neutralized the threat posed by Keinan Davis and the Udinese attack.

As halftime approached, Juventus maintained their relentless pressure. Andrea Cambiasso's powerful shot just after the 30-minute mark was well saved by Maduka Okoye, who dived low to his left to keep the score goalless. The save highlighted Okoye's importance to Udinese's hopes of securing a positive result.

In injury time before halftime, Okoye made another crucial save, this time from Nicolás González's powerful shot. Although Okoye spilled the ball, it hit the upright and bounced away from danger, keeping the score goalless.

The pattern continued after halftime, with Conceição unleashing a stunning long-range shot that Okoye superbly tipped away. It appeared to be only a matter of time before Juventus would break the deadlock. At the hour mark, González created space in the crowded penalty area and unleashed a precise left-footed shot into the top corner, giving Juventus the lead.

Udinese's Jesper Karlstrom had an early opportunity, forcing Michele Di Gregorio into a fine save, but the visitors' chances were limited. As the game entered its final 20 minutes, Juventus took complete control, with Udinese's defenders - Oumar Solet, Christian Kabasele, and Thomas Kristensen - putting in a heroic defensive effort to keep the scoreline respectable.

A win and clean sheet for Juventus! ✨#JuveUdinese pic.twitter.com/7fg52i4SWq

— Lega Serie A (@SerieA_EN) May 18, 2025

The game was effectively sealed when substitute Dušan Vlahović scored with a beautifully struck left-footed shot. A magnificent break led to the goal, with Vlahović's precise finish leaving Maduka Okoye with no chance, ending any hopes of a comeback for Udinese.

Despite the 2-0 loss, every Udinese player can take pride in their performance against a relentless Juventus side that dominated the game.

Juventus still face a challenge in their final match of the season against Venezia, where they need a win to guarantee a Champions League spot. Meanwhile, Udinese's final position will likely be 11th at best, regardless of the outcome of their last game against Fiorentina, who are vying for a UEFA Conference League spot.