Lecce vs Udinese Preview & Prediction | 2023-24 Italian Serie A
THE FACTS
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When is Lecce vs Udinese on and what time does it start? Lecce vs Udinese will take place on Monday 13th May, 2024 – 17:30 (UK)
Where can I get tickets for Lecce vs Udinese? Visit each club’s official website for the latest ticket information
What TV channel is Lecce vs Udinese on in the UK? TNT Sports have the rights to Serie A matches in the UK, so it is worth checking their schedule for Lecce vs Udinese
Where can I stream Lecce vs Udinese in the UK? If Lecce vs Udinese is televised on TNT Sports, then subscribers can stream the match live on discovery+
THE LOWDOWN
LECCE
After losing their manager Marco Baroni in the summer, Lecce performed relatively well for much of the campaign following the appointment of Roberto D’Aversa. However, the Apulia-based club decided to sack D’Aversa in March after a poor run of form and the fact he headbutted Hellas Verona forward Thomas Henry.
Since that decision was taken, and Lecce appointed Luca Gotti, they have been much steadier and have begun to push themselves away from the bottom three and the relegation places. Back-to-back draws against Monza and Cagliari have meant that Lecce have now suffered just one defeat in their last seven matches during Gotti’s short reign.
UDINESE
Both Andrea Sottil and then former Crawley Town boss Gabriele Cioffi produced a defensively solid Udinese side for much of this campaign but they struggled to get victories over the line. They decided to recently appoint 2006 FIFA World Cup winning captain Fabio Cannavaro and the propensity to draw too often has remarkably continued.
The Friulians began Cannavaro’s stint with a 2-1 loss at home to Roma in which they conceded a winner deep into second-half stoppage-time. Since then, though, they have shared back-to-back 1-1 draws against tough opposition in both Bologna and Napoli. They had the lead against Bologna but needed a late equaliser against Napoli.
THE TEAM NEWS
LECCE
Roberto Piccoli is missing through suspension for this weekend, whilst the likes of Nicola Sansone, Lameck Banda and Kastriot Dermaku are all out injured.
PREDICTED XI (4-4-2): Falcone; Gendrey, Baschirotto, Gallo; Oudin, Blin, Rafia, Dorgu; Krstovic, Piccoli
UNAVAILABLE: Piccoli (Suspended), Sansone (Injured), Banda (Injured), Dermaku (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE: Kaba (Injured)
UDINESE
Both Marco Silvestri and Gerard Deulofeu are out injured for this weekend’s clash with Lecce, whilst both Sandi Lovric and Florian Thauvin are doubtful.
PREDICTED XI (3-4-2-1): Okoye; Ferreira, Bijol, Kristensen; Ehizibue, Walace, Zarraga, Kamara; Samardzic, Brenner; Lucca
UNAVAILABLE: Silvestri (Injured), Vivaldo (Injured), Deulofeu (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE: Thauvin (Injured), Lovric (Injured)
THE PREDICTION
Even though Lecce have improved quite a lot under the management of Luca Gotti, they have done so by being defensively solid and quite reactive and pragmatic in attack. The southerners have scored over one goal in a game on just one occasion in their last 12 matches. Udinese’s difficulty to get over the line for three points has been a result of being too defensive themselves and finding it tough to score goals themselves so the two defences being on top here seems likely.
TIP: UNDER 2.5 GOALS
