Udinese vs Napoli Match Analysis & Prediction
04/05/2023 9:45 pm
Having seen their Scudetto party spoiled last weekend, Napoli now seek to secure the Serie A tile away to Udinese on Thursday night.
Italy’s champions-elect were denied victory by a late Salernitana goal that silenced a packed Stadio Maradona on Sunday, but even if Lazio win on Wednesday, they will need just one more point to guarantee finishing in first place.
A third national title awaits, such is Napoli’s commanding lead at the top of the table, which stands at some 18 points after a defaliting 1-1 draw against Salernitana followed Lazio’s defeat at Inter.
In addition to tumbling out of Europe at the hands of Milan, Napoli had shown signs of either nerves or fatigue in recent Serie A matches, but a last-gasp defeat of Juventus took them within touching distance of the prize which has remained elusive for three decades.
Often mocked for his shortage of trophies on Italian soil, 64-year-old Luciano Spalletti is set to become the oldest coach ever to win Serie A, and he will expect his side to get the job done on Thursday if Lazio do not slip up at home to Sassuolo 24 hours earlier and make the result in Udine inconsequential.
Before arriving at the Dacia Arena, Napoli have won each of their last eight away matches in Serie A – keeping a clean sheet in seven – and they have also won 12 of their last 13 league meetings with Udinese.
Further demonstrating the disparity between the two teams, Udinese have conceded at least twice in each of their last six encounters, and their last home victory over Napoli came back in April 2016 – they have since lost five and drawn one.
More recently, Udinese – who were beaten 3-2 in November’s reverse fixture – lost their top-half place by suffering another away defeat, as they returned from Lecce empty-handed in their final game of April.
As a result, their last five defeats have all come away from home – by contrast, they have not lost at home in Serie A since January. Udinese have already beaten both Milan clubs and Roma at the Dacia Arena this season, so hosting supreme leaders Napoli may not cause much concern.
Having recovered from a poor run of one win in 17 league matches to stabilise themselves in the standings, the Bianconeri could feasibly finish as high as eighth if results go their way between now and June.
Udinese vs. Napoli Head to head
In the 45 previous meetings between these two teams, Udinese have claimed 10 victories while Napoli have won 23, and they have drawn in 12. Napoli have scored 82 goals and conceded 55 in the process.
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10/01/2021Udinese1Napoli2Serie A
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11/05/2021Napoli5Udinese1Serie A
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20/09/2021Udinese0Napoli4Serie A
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19/03/2022Napoli2Udinese1Serie A
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12/11/2022Napoli3Udinese2Serie A
Udinese Team News
Udinese were missing regular front pair Beto (bakc) and Isaac Success (thigh) due to injury as they came away frol Via del Mare without scoring a goal, but both could return in midweek.
Ilija Nestorovski will most likely make way, and captain Roberto Pereyra should support 10-goal top scorer Beto in a 3-5-1-1 formation.
Udinese's Last 5 Matches
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02/04/2023Bologna3Udinese0Serie A
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08/04/2023Udinese2Monza1Serie A
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16/04/2023Roma3Udinese0Serie A
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23/04/2023Udinese3Cremonese0Serie A
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28/04/2023Lecce1Udinese0Serie A
Napoli Team News
Although Matteo Politano and Giovanni Simeone have returned to fitness and could feature in Udine, Mario Rui is still ruled out by an injury sustained in Napoli’s Champions League exit to Milan.
The same XI that were held by Salernitana could take to the field once again, with Hirving Lozano starting alongside Victor Osimhen Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.
Napoli's Last 5 Matches
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12/04/2023AC Milan1Napoli0Champions League
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15/04/2023Napoli0Verona0Serie A
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18/04/2023Napoli1AC Milan1Champions League
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23/04/2023Juventus0Napoli1Serie A
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30/04/2023Napoli1Salernitana1Serie A
Udinese vs. Napoli: Odds and Predictions
Main Prediction
1X2: 2
Best Odds
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