How Juventus could line up against Udinese

Friday night will be the calm before the storm as Juventus host Udinese in Serie A.

Indeed, while Juve will be desperate to extend their lead at the top of the table this week, the Old Lady will have more than one eye on next Tuesday's Champions League last-16 second leg against Atletico Madrid.

The Italian champions trail 2-0 from the first leg in Madrid and will be desperate to get through the clash with Udinese unscathed ahead of what is a huge game in the European Cup.

In terms of the league, Massimiliano Allegri's side beat second-placed Napoli last weekend to open up a 16-point advantage at the summit.

Unless something incredible happens, Juve will land their eighth straight Serie A crown this season.

Here, Sports Mole takes a look at how the home side could line up against Udinese.

Out: Juan Cuadrado (knee), Sami Khedira (heart), Douglas Costa (hamstring), Miralem Pjanic (suspension), Joao Cancelo (suspension)

Sami Khedira remains out of action for Juve as the German midfielder recovers from a heart procedure.

Juan Cuadrado is still recovering from knee surgery, meanwhile, and a hamstring problem will rule fellow South American Douglas Costa out of the fixture.

Allegri will also be without the services of Miralem Pjanic and Joao Cancelo, with the pair suspended following cards in last weekend's clash with Napoli.

Leonardo Spinazzola could come into the starting XI for just his third league appearance of the campaign, while it seems likely that Mattia De Sciglio, Rodrigo Bentancur and Paulo Dybala will make the team having started on the bench against Napoli.

There are not expected to be wholesale changes ahead of the Atletico clash, though, with Cristiano Ronaldo, Mario Mandzukic and Blaise Matuidi among those who should start in Turin.