Six games unbeaten in Serie A, Udinese aim to firm up their top-half place on Saturday, when they host relegation-threatened Hellas Verona.
While the Friulani left Rome with a point from Monday’s clash with Lazio, 10-man Hellas lost to Bologna last time out, leaving them just above the drop zone.
Match preview
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Although Udinese skipper Florian Thauvin put the visitors ahead at Stadio Olimpico earlier this week, they ultimately failed to upset top-four contenders Lazio, with the sides shaking hands on a 1-1 draw.
Thauvin has found the net in his last two games, taking him onto eight league goals for the season – his best campaign since notching 16 in Ligue 1 six years ago – while star striker Lorenzo Lucca has already hit double figures.
Such firepower has helped the Fruilani claim at least 40 points from 28 games for the first time since 2013, marking a successful first term for head coach Kosta Runjaic.
As a result, Udinese will avoid any repeat of last term’s scrap for survival, in which they very nearly dropped down to Serie B, and can instead target a top-10 finish.
After taking maximum points from their last three matches in Udine, where they are unbeaten in seven against Hellas Verona, the buoyant Bianconeri will now aim to continue in that same vein.
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In fact, Verona’s last away win over Udinese came back in December 2014, when former Italy striker Luca Toni was on target for the Scaligeri.
Yet, Hellas have also kept a clean sheet in six of the clubs’ last 11 league meetings, including January’s goalless draw at Stadio Bentegodi.
Paolo Zanetti‘s current side could do with a few shut-outs in the closing phase of this season, having lost four of their last five fixtures while conceding goals at a rate of two per game.
Last week, they were already one down to Bologna when centre-back Nicolas Valentini was sent off for a second bookable offence, and despite Daniel Mosquera netting his latest goal as a substitute Verona ultimately lost 2-1 on home turf.
Though they have now scored just four times in 10 matches – also averaging the lowest possession rate in Serie A so far this year (35%) – the Gialloblu are still four points clear of the drop zone and hold their destiny in their own hands.
Team News
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Following a period of flux between the posts – after losing back-up goalkeeper Razvan Sava to injury, Udinese then turned to 39-year-old Daniele Padelli – Kosta Runjaic was able to recall fit-again first choice Maduka Okoye on Monday.
Only long-term absentee Isaak Toure is still sidelined, continuing his comeback from a serious knee injury, while Hassane Kamara must serve a suspension. The latter’s absence should see Jordan Zemura return on the hosts’ left flank.
Runjaic generally prefers to pair Lorenzo Lucca with Florian Thauvin up front, so Alexis Sanchez and Keinan Davis are more likely to start on the bench.
Meanwhile, Casper Tengstedt is Verona’s top scorer: the Swedish striker and Daniel Mosquera are both pushing to either displace or partner goal-shy Amin Sarr in attack.
After finding the net against Bologna, only Atletico Madrid’s Alexander Sorloth (seven) has scored more goals as a substitute than Mosquera (five) across Europe’s top five leagues this season, so the Colombian will hope to be handed a rare start.
Hellas still have Suat Serdar, Martin Frese and Abdou Harroui missing through injury; Nicolas Valentini serves a one-match ban after last week’s red card.
Udinese possible starting lineup:
Okoye; Kristensen, Bijol, Solet; Ehizibue, Lovric, Karlstrom, Ekkelenkamp, Zemura; Thauvin, Lucca
Hellas Verona possible starting lineup:
Montipo; Dawidowicz, Coppola, Ghilardi; Tchatchoua, Niasse, Duda, Bradaric; Suslov; Tengstedt, Sarr
We say: Udinese 2-0 Hellas Verona
Currently failing to perform at either end of the pitch, Verona could have their weaknesses exposed away to in-form Udinese.
With some impressive options up front, the hosts should secure three points and keep a buffer between themselves and Serie A’s bottom half.
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