Udinese-Napoli is a match valid for the thirty-fifth day of Serie A and is played on Monday at 8:45 pm: odds, predictions, live TV, streaming.
Exactly one year ago, right in Udine, Napoli arithmetically won the third Scudetto in its history. It seems decades have passed since that match, since the post-tricolor season turned out to be a real disaster for the Azzurri, a crooked year to be archived as soon as possible.
In spite of having changed three coaches, Di Lorenzo and his teammates run the serious risk of locking themselves out of everything and not playing in Europe next year. Napoli hasn’t won for three days – since the beginning of March it has beaten only Monza – in the last round it drew 2-2 with Roma thanks to a penalty kick converted almost at the expiration by Osimhen that allowed Francesco Calzona’s team to retake the Giallorossi and is eighth in the standings on equal points (50) with Fiorentina. Seventh-placed Lazio has six more and the Udine challenge could be one of their last chances to get back in the running for at least a Europa League spot. Napoli will therefore have to reckon with Fabio Cannavaro, who has been on the Friuli bench for two weeks. The 2006 Ballon d’Or winner, after losing on his debut against Roma, snatched a good draw in Bologna, one of the most difficult fields in Serie A (1-1), thus moving up the standings. Udinese, however, continues to be at great risk: it is third-last, -3 behind Empoli and Frosinone, who yesterday settled for a draw.
Udinese-Napoli: the latest lineup news
Cannavaro must do without Perez and Payero, both disqualified. The Juventus coach will reintroduce the 3-4-2-1 with Samardzic and Pereyra behind Lucca, while the midfield will consist of Ehizibue, Walace, Zarraga and Kamara. Unavailable are Giannetti, Thauvin, Ebosse and Lovric.
Heavy absences in Napoli, including those of Kvaratskhelia and Zielinski. Calzona should make room for Cajuste, Lindstrom and Ostigard. Ngonge, another player who arrived in January, will also be scalped.
The Prediction
On the one hand we have an Udinese at serious risk of relegation and practically forced to win, on the other a Napoli that continues to disappoint while at the same time giving timid signs of recovery. Azzurri winning seven times in the last eight previous matches but we remain willingly far from the final result: it is quite likely, especially given the defensive numbers of the partenopei – they concede goals uninterruptedly since January – that they will score both.
The probable formations of Udinese-Napoli
UDINESE (3-4-2-1): Okoye; Ferreira, Bijol, Kristensen; Ehizibue, Walace, Zarraga, Kamara; Samardzic, Pereyra; Lucca.
NAPOLI (4-3-3): Meret; Di Lorenzo, Rrahmani, Ostigard, Olivera; Zambo Anguissa, Lobotka, Cajuste; Politano, Osimhen, Lindstrom.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 1-1
