Juventus coasted through to the Coppa Italia quarter-finals, with Paulo Dybala and Gonzalo Higuain sinking Udinese.
Match Report
Juventus made light of the absence of a sick Cristiano Ronaldo as their Argentinian connection dazzled in a 4-0 Coppa Italia win over Udinese.
The onset of sinusitis on Wednesday afternoon meant Ronaldo sat out this last-16 tie, but Gonzalo Higuain and Paulo Dybala put the game beyond Udinese before the hour mark.
And an outstading five-pass exchange between the Juve strike pair set the tone for the one-sided cup tie, with Higuain netting the 16th-minute opener.
Dybala slotted a penalty 10 minutes later, then struck a sublime third goal in the early stages of the second half.
The former Palermo man would have been on for a hat-trick had he taken the second penalty awarded to Juventus just after the hour. Instead, Douglas Costa took responsibility, safely finding the right corner.
Match Events
5' Higuain's shot too straight
Good quick play down the right wing by Dybala, with Higuain eventually picking up the ball on the edge of the penalty area, he turns and fires a low shot towards goal, but it lacks pace to beat Nicolas in the Udinese goal and the keeper makes a comfortable save.
16' GOAL! Juventus 1-0 Udinese (Higuain)
Higuain with the goal after 16 minutes to send the hosts into the lead.
Dybala was heavily involved, playing a number of quick one-two passes with Higuain, before chipping the ball over the top of the Udinese defence for the striker to chest down and then fire beat Nicolas and into the back of the net.
21' Bernardeschi's free kick over the bar
Free-kick to Juve in a good shooting opportunity after Rabiot is brought down by Nestorovski around 35 yards out.
There is no Ronaldo tonight to take the free-kicks. so it looks like Bernardeschi will be shaping up to shoot instead.
However, his effort flies high over the Udinese crossbar.
26' Penalty Goal! Juventus 2-0 Udinese (Dybala)
Bernardeschi just nicks the ball away from Nicolas after being played in behind the defence and the Udinese keeper brings him down deep inside the penalty area.
Dybala makes no mistakes from the spot and Juventus lead 2-0!
A clinical finish from Dybala, straight into the bottom right-hand corner of the net, giving Nicolas no chance of saving that
42' CLOSE! Bentancur hits the post
Bentancur tries to curl the ball into the top right-hand corner after cutting inside from the left, but Nicolas reads it well and parries it out wide to safety.
Good strike, just slightly too close to the keeper.
55' Disallowed! Higuain scores but the goal is offside
Bernardeschi goes for goal from the edge of the penalty area, but his shot is blocked and falls straight to the feet off De Ligt, who tries to find the bottom left-hand corner of the net, but Nicolas makes a great save.
However, Higuain is there to tap home the rebound from just a couple of yards out.
The third Juventus goal is ruled out for offside after a lengthy VAR review, with Udinese awarded a free-kick inside the box for offside instead. It looks like a very tight decision.
57' GOAL! Juventus 3-0 Udinese (Dybala)
There's no doubts about this goal, it's a superb finish from Dybala to surely put the game to bed.
Higuain lays the ball out wide to Dybala who looks to cross into the box, but instead he curls the ball into the top left-hand corner of the net.
61' Penalty Goal! Juventus 4-0 Udinese (Douglas Costa)
Another penalty is awarded to the hosts after Nuytinck handles the ball in the box as he tried to block a shot at goal from close range. The referee points to the spot straight away and despite the appeals from the Udinese players, the decision stands.
Douglas Costa steps up to take the penalty and he also converts from the spot, showing great composure to send Nicolas the wrong way and slot the ball into the bottom right-hand corner of the goal.
72' Higuain's shot stopped by Nicolas
Higuain with a good opportunity from a tight angle to make it five, but his shot is too close to Nicolas at the near post and the Udinese keeper makes a strong save, before his defenders clear the danger.
79' CLOSE! Rugani hits the post
Rugani meets a free-kick delivery into the box and powers a header towards the bottom left-hand corner of the net, but the woodwork denies him a goal, it strikes the outside of the post and away to safety.
84' Cuadrado's shot wide out
Cuadrado is played in behind the Udinese defence and through on goal and he tries to beat Nicolas from a tight angle, but he curls his shot well wide of the post.
Player Ratings
