Guest writer Michael Morra provides a close look at the Juventus loss to visitors Udinese at the weekend.

Udinese, perhaps the league’s most in-form side, traveled to Torino today in hopes of continuing their January assault on Serie A. Conversely, Juventus was looking to get back on track and dismiss the thought that they were undergoing yet another mid-season collapse.

Felipe Melo’s return after a three match ban couldn’t have come at a better time for Juventus as they had managed only a single victory in their last 5 matches. Unfortunately for the Bianconeri, Melo’s return coincided with the loss of both Amauri and Iaquinta, two target men preferred by coach Gigi Del Neri. In response, Del Neri was left with little option but to start Alessandro Del Piero and Jorge Martinez up top.

Weather conditions were less than optimal with the duration of the match being mired by either rain or light snow. But if any team were to benefit from the quicker playing surface, surely it would be Udinese, who came into today’s game boasting a lightning quick attack that managed 13 goals over their previous four games – and boast two of the quickest, most lethal strikers, in Antonio Di Natale and Alexis Sanchez.

The first half was rather disjointed as Juventus looked weary of Udinese’s attack. But then again, most of Juve’s matches are rather disjointed. The first 15 minutes of the match seemed to belong more to Udinese with Mauricio Isla getting involved regularly down the right flank. But neither team could really produce much of anything.

As the first half progressed so did Juve’s movement and consequently their possession. Perhaps their best chance of the first half came after Leonardo Bonucci phenomenally thwarted an Udinese attack at midfield and thrust forward to lead a dangerous looking counterattack. However, with Milos Krasic on his right with space, Bonucci selfishly opted for a shot from outside the box that trickled well wide.

In the 27th minute, Del Piero uncharacteristically botched a free kick just outside the box (roughly the same spot he scored from against Bari) by lazily drifting the ball over the net. It was a technique far different from his usual dipping free kicks.

In the 37th minute it would be Del Piero again threatening Udinese’s goal – this time with a long range left foot strike that forced Samir Handanovic to make a difficult stop.

Going into halftime Juventus had to be slightly encouraged by their performance. They managed to hold Di Natale and Sanchez well at bay while showing off some of their best movement and ball possession of 2011.

The second half started off at a frenetic pace as Del Piero curled a ball just wide of Handanovic’s far post from the corner of the box and then only a minute later narrowly failed to connect on a chipped through ball by his strike partner Martinez.

Udinese responded a couple minutes later, however, as Giampiero Pinzi forced Buffon to parry his shot over the bar after a clever back heel by Isla.

Udinese seemed to ratchet up the pace of the match and Juventus became unglued at the back. First, Antonio Di Natale managed to slither behind Juve’s backline for an uncontested shot on Buffon. Then just a few seconds later, Di Natale found himself in an even better position. This time, he collected a chipped ball by Sanchez at the edge of the 6 yard box with just a rushing Buffon to beat. Unfortunately for Udinese, Serie A’s most proficient goal scorer could only manage to gently roll the ball inches by the post.

And then completely against the run of play the Stadio Olimpico was treated to a moment of magic.

Claudio Marchisio, largely anonymous for most of the match, provided possibly Serie A’s goal of the year with a sensational overhead kick from the top of the area. After a Del Piero shot produced a high deflection, Marchisio vaulted into the air to bicycle home the game’s opening goal to the right of an outstretched Handanovic. It was a desperately needed goal for both Juventus and Marchisio as both have been much maligned during this recent slide.

Francesco Guidolin, now feeling a very real momentum shift against his side, wasted no time in reacting. Only five minutes after the goal he opted to replace the influential Gokhan Inler with striker German Denis – perhaps trying to quicken the pace of the match and reduce the amount of midfield confrontations.

It’s hard to say if the move really worked as planned but Udinese managed to equalize just a minute later in the 67th minute courtesy of defender Cristian Zapata. After Buffon made the initial stop on an unmarked Di Natale volley, Zapata was left alone to slot home his second goal in as many games.

The match returned to the disjointed state of the first half until a moment of brilliance from Alexis Sanchez. In the 85th minute, the diminutive Chilean managed to flick the ball over the heads of consecutive Juve defenders before ending up on the receiving end of a great ball by Isla. Sanchez was left with an elementary strike from roughly the penalty spot to put Udinese ahead for good.

The match got worse for Juventus as Leonardo Bonucci received a straight red for a late challenge from behind on Sanchez who at that point was turning on the style against Juve’s shaken defense.

Not everything was roses for Udinese though as Sanchez was later sent off himself for a second bookable offense after sliding in harshly on Del Piero.

The win puts Udinese on 36 points and vaults them ahead of Juventus who are stuck on 35. Udinese continues to perform against Serie A’s giants having now recently beaten both Inter and Juventus in succession. This, after putting four past Milan while pushing them to their absolute limit.

On the other side, time is running out for Juventus to mount an attack on Italy’s top four and you’d have to think another finish outside of Champions League qualification could cost Del Neri his job. Of course, if the team continues its free fall Del Neri could be looking for work much sooner.

Walker