Juventus vs Udinese preview - Conte: Udinese game is six-pointer - 7M sport

Juventus vs Udinese preview - Conte: Udinese game is six-pointer



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Posted Saturday, January 28, 2012 by PA

Juventus coach Antonio Conte has stressed the importance of his side's home game against Udinese to his players as they look to stretch their advantage at the Serie A summit.

The Turin giants go into the encounter unbeaten and holding a one-point lead at the top of the standings at the halfway stage of the campaign.

Conte's men followed last weekend's 2-0 triumph at Atalanta with a 3-0 midweek victory over Roma in the Coppa Italia quarter-finals.

Despite his side's great run of form, Conte has warned his players not to underestimate third-placed Udinese, who lie just three points behind them.

"This game is worth double," he said. "It's worth six points and not the usual three.

"We must be smart and understand the importance of this game to play with the right determination.

"We take on a team that is no longer a surprise and that is fighting to achieve important results.

"But this is an important time for us and I want my players to deliver."

Juve face an arduous schedule with a game against Parma on Tuesday and Siena next weekend before travelling to the San Siro for the cup semi-final first leg against AC Milan on February 8.

Rivals Udinese have clinched just 10 of their current 38 points on the road, but they go into this weekend's encounter on the back of a 2-1 triumph over Catania.

"We've had great results so far but we cannot look back," Udinese coach Francesco Guidolin said. "Our aim is to continue to surprise ourselves and do well.

"Juve have a great squad but we will go out determined to take a win."

Udinese, who held Juve to a goalless draw at the Stadio Friuli last month, will be without midfielder Giampiero Pinzi because of a thigh injury.

Guidolin will be hoping to recover midfielder Mauricio Isla, who is doubtful with a muscular problem.



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