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Serie A

Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon feels Sunday's game with Udinese is key to them challenging Inter Milan for the Serie A title.

Juve are five points behind Inter in the table while city rivals AC Milan are two points further back in third and defeat for Juve could see the Rossoneri go above them if they win.

Udinese will be without forwards Antonio Di Natale and Simone Pepe through suspension and injury respectively but Buffon does not expect Juve's opponents to be easier to beat because of this.

"They are fundamental players but I don't think that Udinese will be easier to beat for this reason," said Buffon.

"For us it will be a decisive match for our progress in the championship and for this reason we must win," he told his website, www.gianluigibuffon.com.

"At home we have already dropped a number of points and we cannot afford more false steps."

Buffon is also aware of the need to win with the match against leaders Inter on the horizon.

He added: "The direct encounter is drawing near. Our objective is to start winning full points and win the three points against Udinese, trying to repeat this in the next match away to Cagliari."

Defender Fabio Cannavaro is also wary of thinking too far ahead to the Inter game and wants to concentrate on the Udinese match and the Champions League encounter with Bordeaux before looking at the clash with the league leaders.

Cannavaro said: "I see that many are already speaking of the match against Inter but personally I have decided not to speak on this subject for the next two weeks.

"I am interested in the matches against Udinese and Bordeaux. The first must make us understand that we must not give up in the championship whilst the second must grant us the ticket to the next round of the Champions League.

"Luckily, after the break we will have the return of many important players like Del Piero and for us it is a good thing since we need everyone."

Juventus welcome back captain Alessandro Del Piero who has been out with a thigh injury for over a month but is set to return to action this weekend.

"I see an in-form Juventus side," said Del Piero.

"I am fully recovered and ready to play."

Udinese midfielder Gaetano D'Agostino hopes the game in Turin can be a turning point for his team as they are still searching for their first win on the road this season.

"Each one of us must hand in a great performance," he said.

"We have lost too many points so far and it's time to start winning them back.

"We must be aggressive, solid in every department and try to stop them from playing their game from the beginning.

"We face a very strong squad, with players that can make the difference at any moment."

Udinese are currently tied in 12th place with Chievo and Roma with 15 points from 12 games played so far this season.