As the Serie A season progresses, Napoli find themselves in a challenging position after losing its place at the top of the league. The Azzurri will be looking to bounce back when they face Udinese on Saturday at the Bluenergy Stadium. This matchup is crucial for both teams as they navigate their respective challenges in the league.
Napoli’s recent performances have raised concerns among fans and analysts alike. After a promising start to the season, consecutive defeats to Lazio in both the Coppa Italia and Serie A have put a damper on their title aspirations. The team’s struggles have been compounded by their inability to maintain possession and convert opportunities into goals; they currently hold the lowest goals-per-game average among the top eight teams in the league, scoring just 1.4 goals per match. With only 21 goals in total so far, this marks their worst offensive output at this stage of a season since 2009.
In contrast, Udinese have had a mixed bag of results recently. After enduring a rough patch that saw them lose four out of five matches, they managed to secure a vital 2-1 victory against Monza, which helped them climb back into mid-table contention. With 20 points from 15 matches, Udinese is looking to build on this momentum as they aim for back-to-back league wins for the first time since September.
Historically, Napoli have dominated this fixture, remaining unbeaten against Udinese in their last nine encounters. The last time Udinese managed to defeat Napoli in league play was back in April 2016. Since then, they have faced Napoli 16 times, suffering 13 defeats along the way. Despite this daunting record, Udinese will be hopeful that their recent victory can spark a turnaround against a Napoli side struggling for form.
Team News
Napoli will be without key player Khvicha Kvaratskhelia due to a knee injury that will sideline him until next year. This loss is significant for the Azzurri as Kvaratskhelia has been one of their standout performers this season. Brazilian winger David Neres is expected to step in alongside Matteo Politano and Romelu Lukaku in attack. Lukaku has an impressive record against Udinese, having scored five goals in his previous seven appearances against them.
On the other hand, Udinese faces their own injury challenges, with first-choice goalkeeper Maduka Okoye out for an extended period due to a wrist injury. Additionally, Oier Zarraga is expected to miss out due to a thigh issue. Despite these setbacks, Lorenzo Lucca will lead Udinese’s attack; he has been effective this season with five league goals, four of which have come from headers.
Expected Starting XIs
Udinese: Sava; Kristensen, Bijol, Giannetti; Ehizibue, Lovric, Karlstrom, Ekkelenkamp, Zemura; Thauvin, Lucca
Napoli: Meret; Di Lorenzo, Rrahmani, Buongiorno, Olivera; Anguissa, Lobotka; Politano, McTominay, Neres; Lukaku
Match Prediction
Given both teams’ current form and historical context, this match promises to be tightly contested. Napoli’s need for points could lead them to adopt a more aggressive approach despite their recent struggles. However, with Udinese looking to capitalize on their recent victory and playing at home, a slender away win seems likely.
Prediction: Udinese 1-2 Napoli
