Napoli vs Udinese prediction: ITALY: Serie A betting tips on match 2023-09-26 18:45.
Less than five months since clinching a first Serie A (SA) title in over three decades, Napoli seem on the brink of crisis after an underwhelming start to the 2023/24 season. Despite winning their first two league matches, the Partenopei are winless in their subsequent three (D2, L1), the latest of which was a goalless draw with Bologna that saw star striker Victor Osimhen miss a penalty, then blast new boss Rudi Garcia for substituting him late on.
Garcia already finds himself under significant pressure after inheriting a title-winning squad that already sits seven points adrift of leaders Inter after five rounds, but he insists the “majority of fans still support the team and coach”. But with key attackers Osimhen and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia openly questioning his methods, it’s perhaps little wonder that Napoli have struggled, scoring just eight times in SA this term – a joint-low amongst top-eight sides.
That’s still seven more than upcoming opponents Udinese, who’ve netted just once en route to a winless five-game start to the SA campaign (D3, L2). They’ve not failed to win any of their first six league games since 1989/90, so a trip to the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona comes at an inopportune time as the Bianconeri are winless in their last 12 SA visits, last winning at the stadium back in April 2011 (D1, L11).
Boss Andrea Sottil spoke of his “regret” after his side were beaten 2-0 by Fiorentina, who scored with their only two shots on target, while Udinese remarkably blanked after registering 2.22 xG! Only Empoli (0) have scored fewer across Europe’s top-five leagues, but Sottil insists “results will come” and he’ll be desperate for that here as his side have won just two of their last 17 SA road trips dating back to October 2022 (D6, L9).
Key battle: While he may be at odds with his manager, Osimhen surely remains undroppable for Napoli, especially considering he’s scored in four successive H2H meetings (G5). Standing in his way, Udinese goalkeeper Marco Silvestri has never kept a clean sheet in eight meetings with Napoli, conceding 17 goals in those matches (W1, D1, L6).
Hot stat: Five of Napoli’s last six home league wins have come ‘to nil’.