Udinese vs Napoli prediction: ITALY: Serie A betting tips on match 2024-12-13 17:00.
[p]Udinese come into this tough contest against title-chasing Napoli in better spirits after a 2-1 victory at Monza on Monday night finally ended what had been a five-game winless league run (D1, L4). The victory also ensured Kosta Runjaić’s side ended the round inside the division’s top ten, and with 20 points on the board, they’re already eight better off than at this stage in the previous campaign. [/p]
[p]There’s plenty to be positive about in the home camp, but it’ll be tough for even the most optimistic of Udinese supporters to confidently expect another win here. In games against other teams starting this round in the top ten, the hosts have won only one of seven (D2, L4), while just three points from the last 16 Serie A H2H clashes with Napoli only adds to their bleak pre-game prospects (D3, L13). [/p]
[p]That said Napoli travel on the back of a tough week, falling on the wrong side of the result in a Coppa Italia and Serie A doubleheader against Lazio (L2). The league defeat at the weekend cost Antonio Conte’s men top spot in the table, while the confirmed news that key man Khvicha Kvaratskhelia is set to be sidelined for multiple weeks through injury only adds to their woes. [/p]
[p]It’s not all doom and gloom for Napoli, as a win here and an unlikely defeat for Atalanta at Cagliari would see them reclaim top spot, so there’s plenty of motivation to build on an impressive league run of no loss in six league trips (W4, D2). All but one of those games saw Napoli keep a clean sheet, so don’t be shocked to see another robust showing here. [/p]
[p]Players to watch: Udinese defender Jaka Bijol has been attracting attention for the wrong reasons recently with four yellow cards in his past seven league matches, but it was for the right reasons on Monday as he scored the winner against Monza. Midfielder Scott McTominay will go in search of a goal in a third successive away league appearance for Napoli – both the previous two came before half-time. [/p]
[p]Hot stat: Ahead of the round, Udinese have conceded the second-most league goals in the opening 15 minutes of the second half (seven). [/p]
[p][i]Written by David HÂ [/i][/p]