Udinese vs Juventus
Darcia Arena, Udine
Thursday, 23-07-2020 @8:30pm
Ref: Massimiliano Irrati
Juventus could even mathematically secure the Scudetto on Thursday, if other results go their way, but Udinese have plenty of motivation too.
The Bianconeri might be criticised for their style of football under Maurizio Sarri and struggle more than in the past to get results, yet they are eight points clear at the top of the table and could clinch the title with three rounds to spare.
After two points from three games, they squeezed past a decimated Lazio and took advantage of slip-ups from Inter and Atalanta.
If Inter fail to beat Fiorentina on Wednesday, then a win at the Dacia Arena would crown Juventus champions for the ninth year running.
Leonardo Bonucci is suspended, with Giorgio Chiellini, Mattia De Sciglio and Sami Khedira still injured, so Daniele Rugani should get a rare start, with Matthijs de Ligt playing on through a recurring shoulder problem. Federico Bernardeschi is back from his ban and Cristiano Ronaldo determined to fight Ciro Immobile for the Capocannoniere crown.
Udinese aren’t mathematically safe from the threat of relegation yet, but are nearly there and will be motivated for one final push.
They came so close to getting a result at Napoli, only to be undone by a last-gasp Matteo Politano stunner. In recent weeks, they’ve beaten Roma and held Lazio, so seem to raise their game against the big clubs.
Cristiano Ronaldo is just one goal off equalling Felice Borel’s 1933-34 record of 31 Serie A goals for a Juventus player.
Lazio vs Cagliari
Stadio Olimpico, Rome
Thursday, 23-07-2020 @10:45pm
Ref: Marco Piccinini
Lazio still need to lock down their top four position, but largely just want to end their run of one point from five rounds against a Cagliari side that is tough to beat.
Simone Inzaghi’s injury crisis hit new heights for the trip to the Juventus Stadium on Monday and the situation hasn’t exactly improved here either.
Djavan Anderson impressed in his first Serie A start, but after being frozen out due to repeated tardiness, Jordan Lukaku could be let back into the fold.
Cagliari have centre-back Andrea Carboni suspended after yet another red card in his brief career, while Radja Nainggolan and Luca Pellegrini are still on the treatment table.
The Sardinians aren’t pretty under Walter Zenga, but they are tough, able to hold Sassuolo despite being down to 10 men and only narrowly beaten by Atalanta in similar circumstances.
Cagliari have lost each of their last eight Serie A trips to Lazio.
Serie A recent results
Tuesday, 21-07-2020
-Atalanta 1-0 Bologna
-Sassuolo 1-2 AC Milan
Wednesday, 22-07-2020
-Parma 2-1 AC Milan
-Inter Milan 0-0 Fiorentina
-Lecce 3-1 Brescia
-SPAL 1-6 AS Roma
-Sampdoria 1-2 Genoa
-Torino 1-1 Hellas Verona
