Serie A champions Juventus have returned to winning ways in the league with a 6-2 comeback victory over Udinese at the Stadio Friuli this evening.
The Bianconeri had lost ground in the title race in recent weeks after drawing 2-2 at Atalanta and losing 2-1 to Napoli in their last two matches.
Juve were on the back foot early on against Udinese, too, conceding to a Stipe Perica goal eight minutes in, but Sami Khedira scored twice to galvanise his side to a victory that lifts them within three points of leaders Napoli.
Perica scored a fine individual goal to open the scoring, driving into the box and blasting past Gianluigi Buffon when Giorgio Chiellini backed off him.
Moments after Mario Mandzukic missed a good chance to level things up, Samir comically headed into his own net from a corner as the visitors' pressure told.
Juve were in front six minutes later through Khedira's first of the evening, timing his run perfectly to nod a right-sided cross over the line.
Gonzalo Higuain then hit the post and a game-changing moment looked to have arrived when Mandzukic picked up a second yellow, with Danilo capitalising by glancing home early in the second half.
That leveller came after a couple of fine stops from Buffon, but it would prove to be all about the power of Juve's attack from that point on.
Daniele Rugani found the target with his header via the upright, before Khedira blasted home his second from close range after Rugani turned provider.
The champions added a couple more in the closing stages, as Khedira completed his hat-trick with a fine strike and Miralem Pjanic rounded off the scoring from 25 yards out.
Daniel Lewis
