Napoli will look to continue their impressive run of form when they welcome struggling Udinese to Naples this Saturday.
Venue: Stadio Diego Armando Maradona (Naples)
Key Statistics
Napoli have won their last 10 league games.
They are unbeaten in 18 league games (W16, D2).
The hosts have won their last three home games in all competitions by two or more goals.
Udinese have avoided a first-half deficit in five of the last seven H2Hs (HT: W2, D3, L2).
The visitors are unbeaten in their last six away games (W3, D3).
Yet they are winless in their last seven league games (D5, L2).
Udinese have already salvaged a Serie A-high 15 points from losing positions this season.
Head to head
Napoli have been dominant in this fixture recently, as they have won 12 of the last 13 games between both sides (D1).
Latest performances in all competitions
Napoli: W-W-L-W-W
Udinese: D-D-D-L-L
Napoli
Napoli will go in search of their 13th win of the season in the Italian top flight when they take on Udinese at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.
Luciano Spalletti’s side have set the pace since the start of the season and have remained ahead of the title-chasing pack after 14 rounds of football.
The hosts have been one of the best-performing teams across Europe’s top five leagues, with a point haul only matched by PSG in the French Ligue 1.
The Azzurri come into this game top of the Serie A standings, eight points clear of AC Milan in second place, and a ten-game winning streak in the league which has set them up as title favourites.
Spalletti’s boys left it late to beat Empoli last time out. After being held for over an hour by a stubborn Empoli side, Napoli finally found a breakthrough through a stroke of luck, when they were awarded a spot kick in the 69th minute which Hirving Lozano duly converted. The Mexican attacker turned provider for Piotr Zielinski to add the finishing touches as Napoli claimed all three points.
The hosts are expected to approach the game against Udinese as if it were a final, especially with Andrea Sottil’s men have shown significant improvement this season. With this being the last week of football before the World Cup kicks off and head coach Luciano Spalletti will be keen to see his side maintain their eight points lead at the top going into the festive season.
Possible Napoli starting line-up
Alex Meret; Giovanni Di Lorenzo, Leo Ostigard, Min-Jae Kim, Mario Rui; Stanislav Lobotka, Andre Zambo Anguissa, Tanguy Ndombele; Matteo Politano, Giacomo Raspadori, Victor Osimhen.
Injured: Kvricha Kvaratskhelia
Doubtful: Amir Rrahmani
Suspended: None
Udinese
Meanwhile, Udinese have seen their early season form wane in recent weeks.
Andrea Sottil’s side recorded their third consecutive draw last time out against Spezia. A Sandi Lovric goal was enough to steal a point away from the Stadio Alberto Picco after Arkaduiz Reca had given Spezia the lead.
The Bianconeri are enduring their worst run of the season, having gone seven games without a win, including two draws, which has seen them plummet down the Serie A standings, where they currently occupy the eighth position.
However, with just three points separating them from the top four, Udinese have a chance of finishing the year strong by taking all three points from the run-away league leaders Napoli, which may potentially take them back into the top four.
But having lost all of their last five encounters with Napoli, including losing 12 of the last 13 (D1), Udinese come into this game with the odds hugely stacked against them, and head coach Andrea Sottil will be keen to see his boys rediscover their early season form and go for the win when they take on the leaders.
Possible Udinese starting line-up
Marco Silvestri, Nehuén Pérez, Jaka Bijol, Bram Nuytinck; Roberto Pereyra, Sandi Lovric, Walace, Tolgay Arslan, Enzo Ebosse; Gerard Deulofeu, Isaac Success.
Injured: Destiny udogie, Rodrigo Becao
Doubtful: Adam Masina
Suspended: None
Prediction
Napoli 3-1 Udinese
