A Lady's Touch in Friuli, Spalletti "rejects" the forwards and relies on Boga: for Juve it could be the decisive stretch

Fourth place, at least for one night while waiting for Como-Roma: Juventus takes the lead in the race for a Champions League spot thanks to a goal from Boga in the first half, but lacks ruthlessness, leaving the match in the balance until the final whistle, after wasting several opportunities to double the lead.

Udinese gives way to a brilliant opponent: for Runjaic, the appointment with the first points against Madama is still postponed.

The German coach, short on wingers, tries a surprise move with Zarraga wide on the right — a choice that proves detrimental — and a midfield of quality with Atta and Ekkelenkamp supporting Zaniolo and Davis.

On the other side, Spalletti — still criticized in Friuli today for his sudden departure over twenty years ago after a remarkable fourth place — sets up Yildiz as a false nine with Boga and Conceicao supporting: a trio of creativity, rhythm, and one-on-one.

The start is marked by Boga: at the 13', he breaks free on the left and faces Okoye one-on-one, who hypnotizes him by deflecting the shot for a corner. Thirty seconds later, Conceicao takes a “penalty in motion”, but squanders a colossal chance.

Udinese responds at the 26': Atta weaves through and shoots diagonally, but without power, right into the arms of Perin. In the closing moments of the half, the visitors raise the tempo and at the 38' take the lead: Yildiz easily skips past Zarraga on the left and serves Boga a ball that he can only push into the net. The Friulian response is immediate: at the 40', Atta, from a rebound generated by a long throw-in from Ehizibue, unleashes a left-footed shot that whistles past the post.

The match ignites: an unstoppable Boga finds a highway on the left and only Okoye's foot intervention denies him a brace. From the subsequent corner, Juventus passes the ball around in the opponent's area until Conceicao unleashes a powerful shot: once again, the Juventus goalkeeper instinctively saves with his feet.

The recovery restarts without changes, but at 49' Thuram gets injured: Koopmeiners comes in. There's barely time to readjust when Ekkelenkamp squanders the equalizing opportunity: Davis burns Kalulu on the left and delivers a perfect assist, the Dutchman opens his foot too much from two meters and wastes it.

The Juventus regains ground and at 57' Locatelli tests Okoye's reflexes, who flies with an open hand. The Friulians go into apnea in front of Spalletti's jugglers: a splendid combination on the right frees Koopmeiners in the small area, but his header grazes the crossbar. At 64' Yildiz tries from the edge, a providential deflection sends it to a corner.

Just as Runjaic draws from the bench, Juve would find the 2-0: yet another invention from Yildiz for Conceicao, an unstoppable shot for Okoye. However, Var sees Koopmeiners in offside on the trajectory of the shot and cancels it.

Spalletti makes adjustments: Gatti and Miretti for Boga and Conceicao, whose unpredictability had thrown the home team into disarray. At 85' the umpteenth knockout ball: Yildiz sows panic and finds Miretti completely free just steps from the goal; the newcomer places it accurately, but Okoye makes a miraculous recovery.

The Udinese can't even find the energy for a final assault: the three points are heading towards Turin.