Lecce vs Udinese Match Analysis & Prediction
13/05/2024 7:30 pm
Requring just one point to ensure safety, Lecce play host to fellow Serie A strugglers Udinese at Stadio Via del Mare on Monday night.
Following an alarming mid-season dip, Lecce seem to have timed their run away from the relegation zone to perfection, going unbeaten in six of their last seven Serie A matches following last week’s 1-1 draw with Cagliari.
Luca Gotti’s arrival as head coach has clearly paid off for the Giallorossi, whose only defeat during that period came against AC Milan, but resurgent striker Nikola Krstovic has also played a major part.
Now paired with former rivals Roberto Piccoli up front, the Montenegrin has been directly involved in a goal in each of his last three games, and he followed up a spectacular strike against Monza with a crucial late equaliser in Cagliari.
Holding a seven-point advantage over 18th-placed Udinese leaves Lecce with a whisker of guaranteeing their third straight year in Serie A, and another draw on Monday would get them over the line.
The roles could quite easily have been reversed, with Udinese looking down upon their hosts in the standings, as they have frequently failed to finish off opponents this season.
A total of 18 draws is not only the most across Europe’s top five leagues but is also the club’s highest tally for some 41 years.
Now facing the Serie A side that have gained the most points (16) by scoring in the last 20 minutes, Udinese have lost more points than any other team (18) from goals conceded dueing the same period.
Therefore, Udinese are stuck inside the bottom three and could soon relinquish their long-held top-flight status. Having picked up just three points from their last seven matches, such form suggests that relegation could be on the cards.
While Isaac Success scored in second-half stoppage time to snatch a draw against Napoli on Monday – and they have previously beaten Lazio, Juventus and AC Milan – Udinese’s inability to take care of business against more modest opposition has also proved costly.
Only Serie B-bound Salernitana have collected fewer points against teams currently in the bottom half of the table, so recently-appointed coach Fabio Cannavaro will try to turn that trend around on Monday.
Lecce vs. Udinese Head to head
In the previous 31 meetings between these two teams, Lecce have claimed 10 victories while Udinese have won 18, and they have drawn in three. Udinese have scored 56 goals and conceded 37 in the process.
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29/07/2020Udinese1Lecce2Serie A
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04/11/2022Udinese1Lecce1Serie A
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23/12/2022Udinese2Lecce0Club Friendlies
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28/04/2023Lecce1Udinese0Serie A
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23/10/2023Udinese1Lecce1Serie A
Lecce Team News
Gotti could move Remi Oudin into a more advanced position, behind in-form striker Krstovic, with Pontus Almqvist being promoted from the bench to start on the hosts’ right flank.
Kastriot Dermaku, Mohamed Kaba and Lameck Banda are all sidelined for the remainder of the season by knee injuries, but Nicolas Viola may overcome a calf problem in time to make the squad.
Lecce's Last 5 Matches
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06/04/2024AC Milan3Lecce0Serie A
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13/04/2024Lecce1Empoli0Serie A
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21/04/2024Sassuolo0Lecce3Serie A
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27/04/2024Lecce1Monza1Serie A
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05/05/2024Cagliari1Lecce1Serie A
Udinese Team News
Udinese’s long-term absence list features Enzo Ebosse and Gerard Deulofeu, with Sandi Lovric, Marco Silvestri and French forward Florian Thauvin also set to miss the long trip down to Salento.
More positively for Cannavaro, Argentine duo Nehuen Perez and Martin Payero are both back in the fold following one-game suspensions.
Udinese's Last 5 Matches
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08/04/2024Udinese1Inter Milan2Serie A
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20/04/2024Verona1Udinese0Serie A
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25/04/2024Udinese1Roma2Serie A
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28/04/2024Bologna1Udinese1Serie A
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06/05/2024Udinese1Napoli1Serie A
Lecce vs. Udinese: Odds and Predictions
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