Torino vs Udinese prediction: ITALY: Serie A betting tips on match 2023-02-04 14:00.
Only two points separate Torino (27) and Udinese (29) ahead of this Serie A (SA) meeting but with a large gap to the top-six, gate-crashing the European party is beginning to look unlikely for either club. Nevertheless, the hosts are looking to land a first H2H double since 2017/18 after a 2-1 win in the reverse fixture and will count on their strong seven-game recent league form (W2, D4, L1) to leapfrog their visitors with a win.
The Bull’s only defeat in that sequence came in their last league outing at Stadio Olimpico di Torino (1-0 vs Spezia), a defeat which has contributed to Torino collecting just 12 of their 27 points at home. They’ll hope for a turnaround here but the side will have to do that without the services of the influential Saša Lukić who moved to Fulham, a sale that prompted coach Ivan Jurić to say that “we have lost a great player”, although the arrival of Ivan Ilić may have softened the blow.
Visiting coach Andrea Sottil welcomed the arrival of French World Cup winner Florian Thauvin, who he hopes will help overturn an unflattering recent six-game away run in the league (W1, D3, L2). He arrives at perhaps the perfect time as a dwindling goal output may be the main culprit for some poor form, with Udinese netting just four goals across their last six away league games compared to nine in four prior trips.
That combined with a resilient defence has seen Udinese become ‘draw magnets’ this season with seven stalemates across their last 12 league matches (W1, L4). Their tally of 22 conceded goals is the lowest at this stage since 2011/12, a campaign in which Udinese eventually finished in third, though they may need to be more ruthless in front of goal if they have visions of finishing in the European spots.
Players to watch: Nikola Vlašić may prove to be Torino’s lucky charm with his last two home league goals coming in wins. Improving twenty-year-old Lazar Samardžić could look to steal his thunder however, having already doubled his goal output this season after scoring just twice last season.
Hot stat: Ahead of this round, Udinese have scored a joint-league high eight goals beyond the 80th minute.