Napoli v Udinese is a Week 6 match of Serie A and will be played on Wednesday at 20:45: odds, predictions, TV and streaming
Napoli president De Laurentiis’s tweet at the final whistle of the match against Bologna had something of a sarcastic ring to it. “Well done everyone!” the Azzurri patron wrote. A mocking phrase, if one considers that the Italian champion team had just committed another half a false step, missing the appointment with victory for the third consecutive time in the championship. Last year it had never happened.
Despite a good first half and an impeccable defensive performance – Bologna were hardly ever really dangerous – the Parthenopeans returned from the capital of Emilia with just a point in their pocket (0-0), which is certainly not enough to silence the hornet’s nest of criticism against coach Rudi Garcia, whose bench seems to be starting to ‘burn’ more and more. After five matches, Napoli have only beaten Frosinone and Sassuolo, they are already 7 points behind Inter and there is no trace of the harmonious choral game of Spalletti’s memory, except for a few sporadic flashes. The feeling, after yet another blatant outburst by a senator – this time it was Osimhen, who also missed a penalty in Bologna – is that Garcia no longer has the locker room in his hands. The Nigerian striker was not only angry at the substitution, but also intervened in the coach’s decision not to play with two forwards with a match to win.
In short, the three points are needed like bread: at the ‘Maradona’ in the midweek round comes Udinese, still without a win together with Salernitana, Cagliari and Empoli, as well as third-last in the standings. The Friulians have the worst attack in the championship (one goal in five games) and on Sunday, against Fiorentina (0-2), they also had to reckon with bad luck, conceding goals on practically the only shots on goal by the Viola.
Napoli v Udinese: latest line-up news
The problems, for Garcia, are mainly in defence, where the only centre-backs available are Ostigard and Natan. Juan Jesus and Rrahmani, both injured, are absent. On the left, Mario Rui and Olivera are in a battle, with the Portuguese slightly favoured, while Politano should be preferred to Raspadori, who will be ready to help out in the second half.
Thauvin
A few changes in Udinese compared to the Fiorentina game. Lucca pays for the resounding missed goal against the Viola: with Thauvin in attack, Success could play. News also on the flanks, where Ferreira and Zemura will challenge Ebosele and Kamara.
The Prediction
Napoli are on the verge of a nervous breakdown and there’s no doubt about that. Garcia could be risking his bench in the next four to five challenges, which is why the match against the disappointing Udinese this early in the season cannot be absolutely wrong. The Azzurri have won six times out of seven in their last seven meetings with the Bianconeri, and we believe they can do it again this time, despite a troubled moment, to say the least. The total goals are likely to be at least two.
Napoli v Udinese matchday squad
- NAPOLI (4-3-3): Meret; Di Lorenzo, Østigard, Natan, Mario Rui; Zambo Anguissa, Lobotka, Zielinski; Politano, Osimhen, Kvaratskhelia.
- UDINESE (3-5-2): Silvestri; Perez, Bijol, Kristensen; Ferreira, Samardzic, Walace, Lovric, Zemura; Success, Thauvin.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 2-0
