Juventus vs. Udinese: Team News, Predicted Lineups, Live Stream and TV Info

After a three-month break, Serie A returns to action this weekend and sees Udinese travel to Turin to face the reigning champions. Juventus have undergone a huge number of changes this summer, and it will be a very different looking side that takes to the field on Sunday evening.

Andrea Pirlo, Arturo Vidal and Carlos Tevez have all moved on, with a raft of new signings arriving to replace that superb trio of talent. However, despite the surprising overhaul, the Bianconeri have continued their winning run, comfortably dispatching Lazio earlier this month to claim the Supercoppa Italiana at Shanghai Stadium.

That victory saw Mario Mandzukic and Paulo Dybala both grab their first competitive goals for the club, and Massimiliano Allegri is likely to field that duo from the start against Udinese. Injuries have robbed the coach of some important players, meaning he is likely to opt for a 3-5-2 formation out of necessity rather than choice.

Udinese are expected to adopt the same framework, and they too have endured a summer of change. Andrea Stramaccioni was sacked at the end of a difficult 2014/15 campaign that saw the club battle relegation, eventually finishing in 16th place, just two spots above the drop zone.

Former Atalanta, Torino and Palermo boss Stefano Colantuono has been appointed as his replacement, and they will hope to enjoy a more positive year after also bringing in the likes of Ivan Piris and Duvan Zapata.

A trip to Turin makes for a tough start, particularly as the Zebrette have lost on each of their four league visits to Juventus Stadium and been outscored by a nine goal to one margin.

JOHANNES EISELE/Getty Images

Date: August 23, 2015

Time: 5 p.m. BST (12 p.m. EST)

Venue: Juventus Stadium, Turin

TV Info: BT Sport 2 (UK), beIN Sports (US)

Live Stream: Bein Sports Connect (US)

Form Lines  

Last five results:

Borussia Dortmund 2-0 Juventus (Friendly)	Udinese 1-1 Schalke 04 (Friendly)
Lechia Gdańsk 1-2 Juventus (Friendly)	Ingolstadt 1-0 Udinese (Friendly)
Marseille 2-0 Juventus (Friendly)	Panathinaikos 1-2 Udinese (Friendly)
Juventus 2-0 Lazio (Super Cup)	Bastia 2-3 Udinese (Friendly)
Juventus A 1-0 Juventus B (Friendly)

Predicted Formations

LineUpBuilder.com

Juventus (3-5-2): Gigi Buffon; Andrea Barzagli, Leonardo Bonucci, Martin Caceres; Stephan Lichtsteiner, Stefano Sturaro, Paul Pogba, Roberto Pereyra, Patrice Evra; Mario Mandzukic, Paulo Dybala

Unavailable: Sami Khedira (injured), Claudio Marchisio (injured), Kwadwo Asamoah (injured), Alvaro Morata (injured)

Udinese (3-5-2): Orestis Karnezis; Thomas Heurtaux, Danilo, Ivan Piris; Edenlison, Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu, Guilherme, Bruno Fernandes, Ali Adnan Kadhim; Antonio Di Natale, Cyril Thereau

Unavailable: Molla Wague (suspended)

Player to Watch

Ng Han Guan/Associated Press

The departures of Arturo Vidal and Andrea Pirlo meant that 2015/16 was always going to be a season in which Juventus leaned more heavily on Paul Pogba. With both Claudio Marchisio and Sami Khedira missing through injury, that responsibility is set to be even more evident on Sunday.

It is something the player himself seems keenly aware of, with Massimiliano Allegri revealing at a recent press conference (h/t Gazzetta World) that the Frenchman asked to wear the club’s prestigious No. 10 shirt vacated by Carlos Tevez.

Previously worn by the likes of Alessandro Del Piero and Michel Platini, the honour is one that carries a heavy legacy and the Bianconeri will hope Pogba will live up to the challenge. He has certainly has made a positive start, creating Paul Dybala’s goal in the Super Cup win over Lazio before netting the only goal of Tuesday’s friendly against a youth team XI.

Key Battle

While Pogba’s importance in midfield will be essential for Juventus, Udinese’s hopes will once again be carried by Antonio Di Natale. The 37-year-old—having already set club records for both appearances and goals—returns for his 12th season with the Friulian side, hoping to once again help them compete with Italy’s biggest clubs.

Last year saw him score 17 league goals, his lowest return since the 2008/09 campaign. He went scoreless in both matches against the eventual champions. Standing in for Giorgio Chiellini, Martin Caceres will hope to continue that streak as he lines up in Juve’s back three. The Uruguayan will be keen to put his injury problems behind him.

His speed adds a vital element to the side whenever he is called upon, and it will help him deal with opposition skipper Di Natale. Their clash will be vital to the outcome of this encounter, with the Turin giants seeking to add an eighth consecutive win against Udinese to an already impressive record.

Dino Panato/Getty Images

Odds (via Odds Shark)

Home win: 100/417

Away win: 501/50

Draw: 127/25