Udinese vs Napoli: Preview, Prediction & Betting Tips

Location: Stadio Friuli (Bluenergy Stadium)

Date: 06/05/2024

Kick-Off: 19:45 PM
The focus in Serie A this weekend shifts towards the relegation zone as the hosts for this game. Udinese take on Napoli, with the hosts facing a difficult task in playing last season’s champions in an important fixture that could have implications in the coming weeks.

The hosts have endured a terrible campaign so far this season and the prospect of relegation is likely. Salernitana have already confirmed their fate this season and because the first team to be relegated with two remaining spots still to be avoided. Udinese will be desperate for points as they host a Napoli side, who are poor imitation of the championship winning side from the previous campaign.

The home side for this game are 18th in the league after 34 games played. Sassuolo could be level on points with Udinese if they win their game in hand against Fiorentina on Monday. Udinese could make things seriously interesting with three games to go, if they were to record a win over Napoli.

If Udinese were to beat Napoli, they would move as high as 15th. Empoli, Frosinone and Verona are all two points ahead of Udinese, having played the same number of games as each other. If Udinese fail to beat Napoli, they could find themselves at least five points behind one of the other teams involved.

For the hosts, the main issue has been the draws. Udinese have lost he least amount of the teams involved in the bottom five but have accumulated 17 draws in Serie A this season and only winning four games in total.
Napoli, on the other hand, are hanging on to any minor chances they have of European qualification. Last season’s champions have been poor since the managerial change that has clearly affected their side to which they have produced a disappointing campaign.

Napoli are currently eighth in the league after 34 games played and as it stands are 13 points behind Bologna who are fourth with four games to play. After their 2-2 draw with Roma, Napoli are also nine points behind their previous opponents in a race for potential Europa League qualification and they look destined to remain without European football next season.

The visitors have a slim chance however of making the Europa Conference League spots with Lazio and Atalanta currently ahead of them in the league, in a much more attainable position. Napoli are five points behind Lazio and seven points behind Atalanta respectively.

Consistency has been the huge issue for Napoli this season, on and off the pitch. The managerial changes away from the performances undoubtedly have caused issues in the club. On the pitch, Napoli have 50 points from 34 games, having won 13, drawn 11 and losing ten.

In the previous meeting between the two sides, Napoli were the comfortable winners. Goals from Giovanni Simeone, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Victor Osimhen and Piotr Zielinski gave Napoli a 4-1 win. Lazar Smardzic scored for the away side.

Napoli most certainly have the historical advantage over Udinese and with that it’s seemingly unlikely that Udinese will get anything from this game. In this fixture last season, Udinese did record a 1-1 draw against Napoli. Udinese opened the scoring through Sandi Lovric but Victor Osimhen equalised for the visitors in the second half.

In the last 20 meetings between the two teams, the form is overwhelmingly in Napoli’s favour. The away side have won 17 out of the last 20 meetings, with Udinese only managing one victory. The two remaining games ended in draws between the two sides.

Interestingly, Udinese are winless in their last 16 competitive fixtures against Napoli. The last time Udinese recorded a win over Napoli was in 2016. Gonzalo Higuain scored for Napoli that day, but his goal was cancelled out by Cyril Thereau and a brace from current Manchester United midfielder Bruno Fernandes.

Napoli have won three out of their last five games away at Udinese and the game at the weekend provides the visitors a chance to obtain a league double over them. If they beat Udinese, it would be the first league double over their opponents since the 2021/2022 season.

In two of the last ten games between the two teams, there have been dismissals. One each for either team. Neither side has been able to keep a clean sheet in this fixture in the last four meetings. Interestingly there have only been two clean sheets in this fixture, in the last ten meetings.

Udinese arguably have one of the worst records at home this season in the league, to which surprisingly they have won three times the number of games away from home this season. Udinese have only won once at home all season, drawing nine and losing seven.

The hosts have averaged 0.71 points per game this season and have a 6%-win rate in front of their home crowd this season. It is worth noting that 53% of their 17 draws obtained this season have also been at home but that is accompanied by a 35% losing record. Udinese does have a good record in scoring at home, having averaged 1.12 goals per game.

In their last home game, they were beaten 2-1 by A.S Roma, having conceded a last-minute goal through Bryan Cristante after Roberto Pereyra had given them the lead.

Napoli approach this away game, having experienced some recently good away form as of late. The visitors have won two out of their last five, drawing twice and losing just the once. In that run, Napoli gained a credible draw against current champions Inter Milan.

The away side have played 17 games away from home this season, winning seven, drawing five and losing the remaining five games played. Napoli have gained 1.53 points per game on the road which is a 0.09 increase on their home form this season.

Unsurprisingly, Napoli have a better attacking record away from home. Napoli have averaged 1.65 goals per game in comparison to their 1.38 scored in front of their home crowd.

Napoli last tasted victory on the road, away at Monza at the start of April. Goals from Victor Osimhen, Matteo Politano, Piotr Zielinski, and Giacomo Raspadori sealed the win.

Udinese

Gerard Deulofeu, Sandi Lovric, Lautaro Giannetti and Florian Thauvin are all ruled out with injuries. Udinese have up to eight players who are at risk of suspension.

Napoli

Napoli only have goalkeeper Pierluigi Gollini as their only injury absentee. There are four suspension risks for the away side including the likes of Victor Osimhen.

We are predicting a 3-1 win for Napoli away from home at Udinese.

Udinese 1-3 Napoli