Juventus beat Udinese to boost Champions League qualification hopes
The home side had the better of the first half but were unable to find an opener, with Randal Kolo Muani having a chipped effort saved and a Nicolas Gonzalez shot from distance was pushed onto the post by Udinese keeper Maduka Okoye.
Gonzalez put Juventus in front in the 61st minute, collecting a pass in the box from Kenan Yildiz and rifling his shot into the top corner, and Yildiz was the provider for Dusan Vlahovic to secure the win two minutes from time.
Igor Tudor's side go to relegation battlers Venezia on the final day of the season.
Juventus moved to 67 points, one ahead of AS Roma who beat AC Milan 3-1, with Lazio a point further behind after they held Inter Milan to a 2-2 draw.
Roma took the lead at the Stadio Olimpico from a corner kick in the third minute with Gianluca Mancini heading home and Milan were down to 10 men midway through the opening half when Santiago Gimenez was punished for an elbow on Mancini.
The hosts failed to make the most of their numerical advantage and Milan levelled six minutes from the break, with Joao Felix guiding his effort into the net after Mile Svilar had saved from Alex Jimenez.
Roma were back in front in the 58th minute, Leandro Paredes scoring direct from a free kick, the ball beating keeper Mike Maignan at his near post and Bryan Cristante netted from outside the area three minutes from time to wrap up the win.
Claudio Ranieri was emotional before the game, his last in charge of Roma at the Olimpico as the home crowd paid tribute to him with a choreographed display, and takes his side to Torino on the last day, hoping to overtake Juventus in the table.
That loss leaves Milan ninth in the table on 60 points and out of the hunt for a European place, which looks likely to spell the end of manager Sergio Conceicao's time in charge when the season ends.
Bologna, fresh from their Coppa Italia success, are out of the Champions League race after their 3-2 loss at Fiorentina left them eighth in the standings on 62 points.
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13 hours ago
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Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox UDINE, Italy - Gianluigi Donnarumma confirmed his imminent departure from Paris St Germain after he was effectively axed from the squad by manager Luis Enrique, who left the Italian keeper out of the Super Cup line-up. Donnarumma played an instrumental role in PSG's treble-winning campaign last season, helping them to finally win the Champions League for the first time. However, the 26-year-old, who joined the club in 2021, has now been left out in the cold. PSG signed French keeper Lucas Chevalier on Saturday, fuelling speculation about Donnarumma's future, and with one year left on his contract, the Italian is now set to move on. "Unfortunately, someone has decided that I can no longer be part of the group and contribute to the team's success," Donnarumma posted on social media on Tuesday. "I am disappointed and disheartened." The keeper's omission from the PSG squad to face Tottenham Hotspur on Wednesday was the main focus of the manager's press conference. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Luxury items seized in $3b money laundering case handed over to Deloitte for liquidation Singapore MyRepublic customers air concerns over broadband speed after sale to StarHub Singapore Power switchboard failure led to disruption in NEL, Sengkang-Punggol LRT services: SBS Transit Singapore NEL and Sengkang-Punggol LRT resume service after hours-long power fault Business Ninja Van cuts 12% of Singapore workforce after 2 rounds of layoffs in 2024 Singapore Hyflux investigator 'took advantage' of Olivia Lum's inability to recall events: Davinder Singh Singapore Man who stabbed son-in-law to death in Boon Tat Street in 2017 dies of heart attack, says daughter Singapore Man who stalked woman blasted by judge on appeal for asking scandalous questions in court "These are always hard decisions to make. I can only say good things about Gianluigi Donnarumma," Luis Enrique told reporters. "He is one of the best players in his position, without any doubt. He is even better as a person, but we were looking for a different profile of keeper. "Bearing in mind the level of Gianluigi Donnarumma and everything he has given to the club, of course we understand the situation but my aim is to improve the team and I have tried to do that in the best way possible." Italian reporters were understandably more concerned with the Donnarumma situation than with the match against Spurs, but the PSG manager soon grew tired of the subject. "No more questions on this. It is my decision, it is the club's decision and the club backs me," Luis Enrique said. "We now need to find the best solution for all parties." Donnarumma's next club has yet to be decided, and the keeper would like the chance to bid farewell to the PSG supporters. "I hope to have the opportunity to look the fans at the Parc des Princes in the eyes one more time and say goodbye as it should be done," Donnarumma wrote. "If that doesn't happen, I want you to know that your support and affection mean the world to me and I will never forget it. "Playing for this club and living in this city has been an immense honour. Thank you Paris." PSG captain Marquinhos also spoke about the Donnarumma situation during his press conference. "It is always difficult. I have been here for 12 or 13 years and I have seen other players go through the same thing," the Brazilian defender said. "Life is like that and football is like that. One day I will leave as well, I hope it will be in the best possible conditions but players come and go and the club remains, the fans remain, and history remains. "We don't know if he is going to leave or stay. If he stays of course we will welcome him back with open arms. "Because what he did last season was incredible and it is thanks to him that we reached the final and we won the trophy. But if he has to leave we will thank him." REUTERS
