Napoli will visit Udinese on Sunday in pursuit of their fourth consecutive Serie A victory. The reigning champions have shown resilience in domestic play but are struggling in the Champions League after a recent defeat.
Match Preview: Udinese vs Napoli
Last week, Napoli achieved a significant win against Juventus, marking five victories in all competitions. This success came after changes in formation due to several key player absences. Rasmus Hojlund’s impressive brace helped Napoli secure the win at Stadio Maradona.
However, Napoli faced a setback midweek, losing 2-0 to Benfica in Portugal. This defeat pushed them into a challenging position in the Champions League, having lost their last five away matches and conceding a total of 17 goals during those games.
Head-to-Head History
Historically, Napoli has dominated their encounters with Udinese. The Campanian club is unbeaten in their last 18 league meetings against Udinese, securing 14 victories. Udinese has not triumphed at home against Napoli since the 2015-16 season, when they won 3-1.
During the last 10 matches, Udinese has struggled defensively, conceding an average of nearly two goals per game. Currently, they sit mid-table after a disappointing run, including four losses in their last six games.
Recent Form
- Udinese Serie A form: L W L L W L
- Napoli Serie A form: W D L W W W
In their last match, Udinese exited the Coppa Italia against Juventus, shortly before facing Genoa in the league. They struggled to secure points, having allowed a league-high 13 goals in the second half this season.
Team News and Expected Lineups
Napoli will be without several key players, including goalkeeping ace Alex Meret and midfielders Billy Gilmour, Stanislav Lobotka, and Frank Anguissa. Eljif Elmas will play in an unfamiliar role in central midfield.
Udinese, meanwhile, will miss midfielder Arthur Atta due to injury. Kosta Runjaic’s side may adjust their strategy against Napoli’s strong offense, especially considering their defensive vulnerabilities.
Predicted Lineups
| Udinese | Napoli |
|---|---|
| Okoye | Milinkovic-Savic |
| Bertola, Kabasele, Solet | Beukema, Rrahmani, Buongiorno |
| Zanoli, Ekkelenkamp, Karlstrom, Piotrowski, Modesto | Di Lorenzo, McTominay, Elmas, Spinazzola |
| Zaniolo, Davis | Politano, Neres, Hojlund |
Prediction: Udinese vs Napoli
Given their historical success against Udinese, Napoli is favored to secure a narrow victory. Continuously showcasing their ability to perform well against lower-tier teams in Serie A can help them maintain pressure on league co-leaders, AC Milan.
