Udinese-Empoli is a Week 16 match of Serie A and will be played on Wednesday at 20:45: odds, predictions, TV and streaming.
The Udinese we admired in the first part of the season was a two-faced team. Until October – a period characterised by the incredible streak of six consecutive victories – we saw one of them: the Friulian club’s best ever start. But from the defeat in the Coppa Italia against Monza onwards it is as if the Bianconeri stopped suddenly, going into a slow decline and collecting only three points in five days.
That of the men led by Andrea Sottil, in his first experience in the top flight, remains an extraordinary championship overall. Udinese are well on their way to achieving their main objective, salvation, well ahead of schedule. Whether something more will come is yet to be seen, and it will probably be decisive the approach that Pereyra and his companions will have in the next matches. The Friulians, who arrived perhaps a little tired at the break, have been able to recharge their batteries and will start from eighth place, three points behind Roma and Atalanta and therefore from the Europa zone. In friendly matches, meanwhile, they returned to winning ways, beating Lecce and Cremonese after two defeats to international opponents (West Ham and Athletic Bilbao).
The Friulians haven’t won since October
Now they must try to break free in the league, where their last success dates back to 3 October. It won’t be easy against Empoli, who after an uncertain start are taking a lot of satisfaction, thanks to which, after fifteen rounds of the championship, they are ten points ahead of the third-last place, occupied by Cremonese.
The exultation of Empolese Cambiaghi
Paolo Zanetti’s Azzurri are particularly strong at home and it is thanks to three wins in their last four home games (Monza, Sassuolo and Cremonese) that they have built the foundations for their second salvation in a row. The Tuscans are particularly at ease with small and medium-sized teams, with whom they have often made an excellent impression. Empoli did not demerit in friendly matches either: among the notable results were the victory against Sturm Graz, the draw with Wolverhampton and the 2-1 success over Sassuolo.
Udinese-Empoli: latest line-up news
Sottil is anxious about Deulofeu: the Spanish striker has suffered a knee sprain and is unlikely to feature against Empoli. To take on the shoulders of the Bianconeri attack will then be Beto, who has appeared on the rise in recent matches, and Success. For the rest, the usual doubts for the HCL coach, who will have to decide who to deploy between Arslan and Makengo and Lovric and Samardzic, with the first two slightly ahead.
Ciccio Caputo has just returned to Empoli after three seasons and Zanetti plans to throw him into the fray straight away: it will be a run-off with Satriano. The former Venezia coach could play with a double trequartista, giving confidence to both Bajrami and Baldanzi. Destro is unavailable in attack. On the right flank Ebuehi will challenge Stojanovic.
The prediction
Will the break have regenerated Udinese? It’s hard to say, but we certainly expect a more energetic and cynical team than in November. We also have doubts about Empoli’s resilience, but the feeling is that it will be a very balanced match, in which the Friulians, eager to break the fast of success, will start slightly favoured. Looking at the Tuscans’ away tendency, the total number of goals is likely to be less than three.
- UDINESE (3-5-2): Silvestri; Becao, Bijol, Perez; Pereyra, Lovric, Walace, Arslan, Udogie; Beto, Success.
- EMPOLI (4-3-2-1): Vicario; Ebuehi, Ismajli, Luperto, Parisi; Haas, Marin, Bandinelli; Baldanzi, Bajrami; Satriano.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 1-0
