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Old Lady ease back into form |
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Juventus eased their early-season worries with an emphatic victory over an Udinese side who slumped to a third successive Serie A defeat.
Goals from Leonardo Bonucci, Fabio Quagliarella, Claudio Marchisio and Vinzenzo Iaquinta inflicted the damage as Juventus cruised to their handsome win.
The Turin giants had endured a sticky start to their league campaign, losing at Bari before drawing 3-3 against Sampdoria last weekend.
But they were able to pick apart the Udinese defence and had victory effectively wrapped up by half-time after opening up a three-goal lead.
Samir Handanovic in the Udinese goal was kept busy from the early stages, tipping a shot from Milos Krasic over the bar in the third minute before the same player shot too high from the edge of the penalty area.
Quagliarella missed the target with an ambitious left-footed volley, before Udinese had their first serious effort on the Juventus goal, with Felipe Melo's long-range strike well dealt with by Marco Storari.
The opening goal arrived after 18 minutes when Alessandro Del Piero's crossed free-kick was hopelessly missed by Handanovic and Bonucci bundled the ball over the line with his knee from close range.
Handanovic partly redeemed himself by making a fine save from Del Piero's shot which looked to be heading for the top right corner, but it was 2-0 after 24 minutes when Quagliarella flicked the ball into the far corner with a backheel after Milos Krasic fed him at the right post with a low centre from the right flank.
Handanovic tipped another strike from veteran Del Piero over the bar, while Quagliarella also went close before Juventus stretched their lead to 3-0 after 43 minutes.
The visitors broke at great speed from their own half and Krasic on the right showed great awareness to clip a cross to Marchisio beyond the far post for a left-footed volley which thundered past Handanovic.
Antonio Di Natale threatened to pull one back for Udinese but sent his shot wide on the hour mark.
Juventus hit their fourth goal in the 77th minute when he was allowed to turn and shoot from just outside the penalty area, finding the bottom left corner.
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