Udinese vs Lazio prediction: ITALY: Serie A betting tips on match 2024-01-06 14:00.
Udinese are the draw specialists in Serie A (SA), having shared the spoils in 11 of their 18 league matches in 2023/24 so far. Unfortunately for the Friulians, only two of those other seven encounters were victories (L5), but they did at least end December with a hugely impressive 3-0 win over UEFA Champions League-chasing Bologna to move three points clear of the relegation zone, bringing a three-game unbeaten run (W1, D2) into the new year.
The chances of that extending appear slim, given Udinese haven’t won their first match in January in any of the last three years (D1, L2), conceding 11 goals in the process. Raising further doubts over their credentials, they haven’t defeated upcoming opponents Lazio in any of their last six H2Hs either (D3, L3), while head coach Gabriele Cioffi hasn’t got the better of his opposite number, Maurizio Sarri, in any of their three personal meetings (D1, L2).
Lazio began the SA season terribly with just seven points from as many games, but since then, they have picked up 20 points from 11 outings, putting them just two points off sixth-placed Atalanta. That said, five of their seven league losses this term have come away from the Stadio Olimpico, which is a troublesome trend that could be set to continue given they have failed to score more than once in any of their last four visits to Bluenergy Stadium.
Even with that goalshy nature at this ground, they remained unbeaten across those four games (W2, D2), and a fast start could be key to tipping the balance in favour of the win column. That’s certainly something that’s been a trend of Lazio’s games so far this season with only Fiorentina having netted on more occasions in the opening 15 minutes of SA matches this campaign (seven) than the Eagles’ five.
Players to watch: The in-form Roberto Pereyra has recorded four of his five league goal involvements this season in his last five appearances (G2, A2). Taty Castellanos will hope to pick up where he left off in 2023, when he scored in a 3-1 triumph against Frosinone to end a 13-game goal drought.
Hot stat: Six of Udinese’s last seven matches have seen at least one goal scored after the 80th minute.