For the first time in a decade, Juventus enter the new Serie A campaign without a title to defend.
Bianconeri dropped to fourth place under Andrea Pirlo last season and that was enough for Andrea Agnelli to be fired and re-hired former favorite Massimiliano Allegri, a winner of five consecutive scudettos during his first tenure.
Allegri is back in the excavation / Nicolò Campo / Getty Images
In Bianconeri has a favorable opening game on paper, against Udinese, and gives me in on the news that Cristiano Ronaldo is now focused on continuing his career in Turin.
Can Juve start the season with three points then and announce themselves as true title challengers for the 2021/22 campaign? You would not bet against them.
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Here is a 90 minute preview of the game.
When is it kick-off? Sunday 22 AugustWhat time is the kick-off? 17:30 (BST)Where is it played? Dacia ArenaTV channel / livestream? BT Sport 1 (UK and ROI), bet365 app (UK and ROI), Paramount + (USA)
Aims to continue its sparkling form / Jonathan Moscrop / Getty Images
Everything was a change for Juventus in the leadership during the summer, but there has been some activity in the transfer market. Paulo Dybala’s Bianconeri career could reign again this season, while Federico Chiesa aims to continue his electric form from Euro 2020.
Matthijs de Ligt and Leonardo Bonucci are expected to work together in the back line, while Ronaldo should lead the attack for Allegers new appearance Juve. Danilo and Rodrigo Bentancur were able to anchor the midfield together.
Udinese will start life without talisman Rodrigo De Paul in the most challenging way, and the creative responsibility will now lie on the shoulders of Roberto Pereyra and Gerard Deulofeu. Marco Silvestri will make his first appearance for the club, after replacing Juan Musso between the sticks.
Udinese: Silvestri; Molina, Nuytinck, Becao, Samir; Arslan, Walace; Pussetto, Pereyra, Deulofeu; Okaka
Juventus: Szczesny; Cuadrado, De Ligt, Bonucci, Alex Sandro; Danilo, Bentancur, Dybala; Chiesa, Ronaldo, Kulusevski
The hosts have not won any of their last three matches / Alessandro Sabattini / Getty Images
Juve boast an almost perfect record in head-to-head competition with Udinese and have won seven of the last eight meetings between the two sides. The only stain on the copybook came in July 2020, when a Seko Fofana goal at the last minute took the points for the hosts.
In addition, there has been one-way traffic. Juve have scored four goals in three of the eight clashes, although the last meeting was much closer. Two late shots from Ronaldo won the match for Old Lady and breathed life into their top-four ambitions when everything seemed lost.
They will hope for much less drama this time.
Juventus should go home / Stefano Guidi / Getty Images
You would be an idiot to bet against Juve in all lifestyles, and especially when they have hired their league winner as a manager. Allegri knows that this team has lost its fear factor over the last two years, and he will aim to restore it from the start.
Udinese can fight without talisman De Paul this year and attacking opportunities can be difficult to find. We predict that Bianconeri will get off to a perfect start and to do so in some style.
Prediction: Udinese 0-3 Juventus
