Udinese Look To William Troost-Ekong To Stop Cristiano Ronaldo

The Nigeria international joins his Le Zebrette teammates as they make their way across town to the Juventus Stadium for a Coppa Italia clash with the Old Ladies at a time when the Portuguese star is in fine form.

William Troost-Ekong has been in fine form in recent games with the Super Eagles defender playing a key role to help Udinese put together a three-game winning streak while keeping clean sheets in their last two matches.

But their next opponent is the toughest in the country – a side propelled by one of the world’s greatest ever player. Juventus are unbeaten at home in the Coppa Italia since March 2015. Maurizio Sarri’s men have also won 11 of their 12 unbeaten home games this season.

And in Cristiano Ronaldo, the Serie A champions have a forward in top form. The former Real Madrid superstar has scored 14 league goals this term with four of those coming in his last two appearances.

However, Udinese will hope one of their most established defenders in the person of William Troost-Ekong will be in top form on Thursday night.

No Udinese defender has featured in more matches than Troost-Ekong this campaign, and manager Luca Gotti will look to the former Bursaspor strongman to help stop one of the finest attacks in the country.

Juventus are on a winning streak at home, a sequence that has seen them win their last seven Coppa Italia games in front of their fans by an aggregate score of 20-4. It will take something special from Udinese’s Nigerian import and his mates to stop the Old Ladies.