Verdict: Draw

Greatest odds: 5/2

Bookmaker: ZetBet

Displaced from the highest within the Serie A title race, Napoli purpose to reignite their marketing campaign in Saturday’s encounter with Udinese. After a blistering begin, back-to-back defeats in league and cup competitions have disrupted the Azzurri’s momentum.

In the meantime, Udinese stay constant in mid-table, offering a gentle however much less spectacular problem. Napoli will look to bounce again decisively, whereas their hosts search to solidify their place and exploit any vulnerabilities within the reigning champions.

Udinese

Udinese face one other historic hurdle, as their final league victory in opposition to Napoli dates again to April 2016. Since then, the Bianconeri have endured 13 defeats in 16 encounters.

Udinese enter this week’s contest on the again of a uncommon victory, having misplaced 4 of their earlier 5 league video games earlier than defeating Monza 2-1 on Monday.

Securing simply their second away win of the Serie A season, Lorenzo Lucca opened the scoring with one other headed aim, whereas Slovenian defender Jaka Bijol sealed the outcome with a second-half winner.

The victory lifted Udinese to ninth within the standings with 20 factors from 15 matches, ending their latest droop.

Now aiming for consecutive league wins for the primary time since September, the Friulani face a difficult week forward: after internet hosting Napoli, they’ll tackle reigning Scudetto champions Inter Milan within the Coppa Italia.

Staff Information

First-choice goalkeeper Maduka Okoye missed Monday’s match in opposition to Monza attributable to a wrist damage that would sideline him for as much as three months. Oier Zarraga is unlikely to return earlier than Christmas attributable to a thigh concern, becoming a member of Martin Payero, Alexis Sanchez, and Keinan Davis on the sidelines.

In Davis’s absence, Lorenzo Lucca will spearhead the assault. Lucca has scored 5 league objectives this season, with 4 of them coming from headers – the joint-highest in Serie A alongside Mateo Retegui.

Napoli

Again-to-back defeats to Lazio inside 4 days have dealt a big blow to Napoli’s ambitions of competing for 2 trophies this season, eliminating them from the Coppa Italia and costing them their lead in Serie A.

Antonio Conte rotated his beginning XI completely throughout the 2 fixtures, however neither lineup may deal with their in-form Roman opponents, who now path by only one level within the standings.

Following a 1-0 residence loss on Sunday, Atalanta BC now lead a tightly contested title race. In the meantime, some Napoli followers are questioning Conte’s method: among the many present prime eight groups, his aspect not solely has the bottom common possession (50%) but in addition the poorest goals-per-game price (1.4).

Napoli have managed simply 21 league objectives to date — their worst tally at this stage of a season since 2009. Except they rating three on Saturday, it’s going to mark their lowest complete after 16 matches on this century.

On a brighter be aware, Napoli have stored 5 clear sheets in seven away video games this season and conceded simply as soon as of their final six on the highway.

With Conte additionally unbeaten in 11 Serie A matches in opposition to Udinese, he will likely be assured of getting again on monitor this weekend.

Staff Information

After back-to-back defeats to Lazio, Napoli have suffered one other setback, with star participant Khvicha Kvaratskhelia dominated out till subsequent 12 months attributable to a knee damage.

Brazilian winger David Neres could step in, becoming a member of Matteo Politano and Romelu Lukaku within the assault. Lukaku has a robust report in opposition to Udinese, scoring 5 objectives in seven Serie A appearances in opposition to them.

Pasquale Mazzocchi will even miss out, however Conte is predicted to have the rest of his squad match for the lengthy journey north to Udine.

Conclusion

Napoli could possibly be prone to dropping extra factors, as a good and cautious contest appears prone to finish in a draw. With each groups struggling for kind, objectives could also be laborious to return by, leaving Conte and his squad pissed off with one other stalemate.

Verdict: Draw

Greatest odds: 5/2

Bookmaker: ZetBet