Fiorentina vs Udinese Preview: Team News & Prediction
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It has been a very impressive start to the season for Fiorentina as they challenge for the Serie A title. I Viola did suffer defeat last weekend, though, as they now prepare to face Udinese.
Kick-off date/time: Monday 23rd December, 2024: UK – 5:30pm / US ET – 12:30pm / US PT – 9:30am
How to watch on TV: UK – Not televised / US – Select matches will be televised on CBS Sports so it is worth checking their schedule
How to watch online: UK – OneFootball / US – Paramount+
Fiorentina Preview: I Viola on the push
Challenging for the Italian title, Fiorentina begin the weekend’s round of fixtures siting tucked inside the top four and the UEFA Champions League spots, just three points below league leaders Atalanta, despite their loss to Bologna at the Renato Dall’Ara last weekend.
The home team come into this one on the back of a 1-1 draw with Vitoria Guimaraes in the UEFA Europa Conference League in midweek. I Viola have suffered just one defeat in their last nine matches inside 90 minutes across all competitions.
Udinese Preview: Fading Friulians
Over the summer, with the Pozzo family turning their attention back to Udinese away from Watford, the Friulians started the season well under the management of former Legia Warsaw boss Kosta Runjaic but things have taken a turn.
The visitors come into this one on the back of a 2-0 loss to Internazionale in the Round of 16 of the Coppa Italia in midweek. That followed up a 3-1 defeat at home to Napoli last weekend and means they have now won just one of their last eight matches across all competitions.
Fiorentina Team News: Bove unavailable
Fiorentina have several injury and illness concerns for this weekend’s visit of Udinese. Dodo is out suspended alongside Cristiano Biraghi with Roma loanee Edoardo Bove unavailable after suffering a cardiac arrest last month.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): David de Gea; Kayode, Comuzzo, Ranieri, Gosens; Richardson, Adli; Colpani, Gudmundsson, Beltran; Kean
Unavailable: Dodo (Suspended), Biraghi (Injured), Bove (Illness)
Questionable: Pongracic (Injured), Sottil (Illness), Cataldi (Illness)
Udinese Team News: No Davis
Former Aston Villa, Nottingham Forest and Watford striker Keinan Davis has been impressive for Udinese of late but he is sidelined for this one due to a calf injury. They are also without key men such as Maduka Okoye and Oier Zarraga.
Predicted XI (3-5-2): Sava; Kristensen, Bijol, Giannetti; Ehizibue, Iker Bravo, Karlstrom, Ekkelenkamp, Zemura; Lucca, Thauvin
Unavailable: Okoye (Injured), Oumar Solet (Injured), Oier Zarraga (Injured), Gerard Deulofeu (Injured), Davis (Injured)
Questionable: Lovric (Injured), Payero (Injured)
Fiorentina vs Udinese Prediction
Fiorentina, with Raffaele Palladino at the helm following the departure of Vincenzo Italiano over the summer, are expected to fade away at some point but I Viola have been very entertaining to watch with Palladino, a disciple of Gian Piero Gasperini, tweaking his system and approach. They face an Udinese side that have quite a few key injury issues as they slide down the table with pressure growing on Runjaic and a Fiorentina victory, especially at the Artemio Franchi, is to be expected.
Fiorentina vs Udinese Tip: Fiorentina to win
