Juventus booked their place in the Coppa Italia quarterfinals with a composed 2-0 victory over a passive Udinese side at the Stadium, a result that lifts morale ahead of Sunday’s crucial league showdown against Napoli. While the performance delivered several encouraging signs for Luciano Spalletti, a fresh defensive injury threatens to complicate preparations for the trip to the Maradona.
The evening could not have started better for the Bianconeri, who immediately dictated the tempo against an Udinese team that offered little ambition and rarely tested Michele Di Gregorio. Juventus took a deserved lead when Jonathan David forced an own goal from Palma, bursting into the area and causing enough confusion for the defender to turn the ball into his own net. David later came inches away from a spectacular strike, denied only by a marginal offside call that chalked off what would have been a stunning 2 to 0.
With Dusan Vlahovic sidelined long-term, David delivered one of his most convincing displays since joining the club. Beyond his direct involvement in the opener, the Canadian forward impressed with his movement, link-up play and relentless work without the ball. His growing understanding with teammates was evident throughout, helped by Spalletti’s decision to deploy Fabio Miretti as a deep-lying playmaker. Both Kenan Yildiz and Weston McKennie also reaffirmed their importance, with the Turkish talent again dazzling from the left half space and the American proving valuable in every zone of the pitch.
Despite the dominance, Juventus did not immediately find the second goal, but their control never looked in danger. Udinese’s best spell amounted only to brief possession phases without penetration, and the hosts eventually doubled their advantage through a well-taken team move that sealed the tie and extinguished any faint hope of an away comeback.
The only sour note arrived when Federico Gatti suffered a worrying knee injury while tracking Buksa near midfield. The defender appeared to twist awkwardly and immediately signalled discomfort. Although assessments will determine the full extent, his availability for the weekend clash in Naples looks highly unlikely. With Daniele Rugani and Bremer still out, Spalletti is left with Kalulu, Kelly, Koopmeiners and youngster Pedro Felipe as his remaining defensive options.
Juventus progress with a confidence-boosting win, but the growing injury list casts a shadow over a decisive December. The performance against Udinese offered clarity, cohesion and attacking spark, yet the next challenge, and the next opponent, will demand even more.
