Scorers: Grosso 51 (J)

Alex Del Piero and Momo Sissoko made their comebacks, but it was Fabio Grosso who got Juve's winner over Udinese.

The Bianconeri needed a victory to keep up with Inter and maintain their momentum of three wins from their last four Serie A games. David Trezeguet is out for a month along with Vincenzo Iaquinta, Hasan Salihamidzic, Tiago Mendes, Claudio Marchisio and Jonathan Zebina, but Alessandro Del Piero made his comeback from the bench. Udinese were without a victory in two and made the trip without Simone Pepe, Alexis Sanchez, Giovanni Pasquale, Damiano Ferronetti, Chris Obodo and suspended top scorer Antonio Di Natale, so Mauricio Isla took on a new trident attack role.

Diego's cross-shot in the opening 40 seconds hit the side-netting to scare Slovenian goalkeeper Samir Handanovic, who qualified for the World Cup this week.

Soon after Diego launched a fierce rocket from outside the box that stung Handanovic's palms under the crossbar, then Cristian Zapata did just enough to stop Amauri nodding in the loose ball.

A Mauro Camoranesi cross went past Amauri for Sebastian Giovinco to test Handanovic at the near post. Felipe Melo had a terrible start and repeatedly misplaced his passes.

Juve were dangerous from set plays and a well-worked move saw Giovinco set up Camoranesi for a charged-down effort. Udinese, playing in yellow, did push forward, but when Diego threatened to break away on the counter-attack, Asamoah earned an inevitable booking for the cynical foul.

Amauri had a fantastic chance on 37 minutes. At the end of a well-worked move, Camoranesi flashed the ball across the face of goal, but Amauri scuffed it from six yards and allowed Handanovic to save.

Diego's free kick was beaten off the head of Amauri, but Udinese thought they had scored on the stroke of half-time.

Gaetano D'Agostino's strike from the D was deflected into the path of Isla to net, but he was in an offside position when the original shot was fired.

In stoppages Diego was booked for going into the tackle when Handanovic bravely smothered at his feet, picking up a knock to the head. When the goalkeeper recovered, he was furious with Diego and received a yellow card for his dissent.

Juventus finally broke the deadlock at the dawn of the second half. Martin Caceres put in a fine volleyed cross from the right for fellow full-back Fabio Grosso to side-foot home from six yards.

Del Piero and Momo Sissoko made their comebacks for Giovinco and a disappointing Melo. There was a curious moment when Gigi Buffon gave the captain's armband to Del Piero, but he was a substitute and so shouldn't wear it, so he handed it back to the goalkeeper.

Diego created a good move that Handanovic palmed outside the box, where Sissoko smashed a screamer just over.

However, Buffon had to perform a very complicated reaction save on Antonio Floro Flores' snapshot, as it bounced right in front of him and he had to parry with his trailing foot!

Del Piero's corner went over Camoranesi, but Basta's deflection threatened to score an own goal had it not been for Handanovic's flying leap to palm it out from under the bar.

Del Piero had penalty appeals for a Basta nudge as he tried to get on the end of a wonderful Camoranesi cross-field pass, but the referee waved play on.

The Friulani went close to an equaliser in stoppages when a free kick ricocheted around the box, but Buffon finally managed to smother.

Juventus: Buffon; Caceres, Cannavaro, Chiellini, Grosso; Poulsen, Felipe Melo (Sissoko 52); Camoranesi, Diego (De Ceglie 86), Giovinco (Del Piero 52); Amauri

Udinese: Handanovic; Basta, Zapata, Coda, Lukovic; Inler (Sammarco 83), D'Agostino, Asamoah; Lodi (Romero 57), Floro Flores, Isla (Corradi 87)

Ref: Brighi