Udinese vs Como Preview & Prediction | 2024-25 Italian Serie A
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With the Pozzo’s putting more time and energy back into Udinese, the Friulians will be aiming to avoid a final day scrap to avoid the drop like last season as a bare minimum. After a strong start, they welcome newly-promoted Como to the north-east this weekend.
KICK-OFF DATE/TIME: Sunday 1st September, 2024 - UK – 7:45pm / US ET – 2:45pm / US PT – 11:45am
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+
UDINESE PREVIEW: GETTING BACK TO THE OLD UDINESE
Tom Cleverley may well be the man to prevent the return of the old Udinese with the Pozzo’s prioritising the Friulians this summer but that could change again soon after Watford’s remarkably impressive start to the season under the former Manchester United midfielder in the Championship and the EFL Cup.
However, Udinese are performing well themselves as they seek to move back up the Serie A table. They began their campaign by going away to last season’s fifth place side Bologna and sharing a 1-1 draw before then welcoming Lazio last weekend and managing to defeat them by two goals to one.
COMO PREVIEW: CESC’S AMBITIOUS COMO
Cesc Fabregas was not officially in charge of Como last year as they gained promotion back to the Italian top-flight for the first time in 50 years. That was officially Oisin Roberts but now that the former Barcelona man has completed his coaching badges he is indeed their head coach but it has been an underwhelming and difficult start to life back in Serie A.
With the arrivals of Raphael Varane, Pepe Reina, Alberto Moreno, Sergi Roberto and Andrea Belotti; it is clear Como are trying to become a name and get themselves a reputation in football aside from its beauty. They began with a 3-0 loss to an impressive Juventus side in Turin before then sharing a 1-1 draw with Cagliari in Sardinia last weekend.
UDINESE TEAM NEWS: A FEW FRUSTRATIONS
The exciting return of Alexis Sanchez has been dampened by an injury at the start of this season and he remains a doubt whilst Damian Pizarro, who they also signed from Colo Colo in a bid to recreate the Sanchez success, remains unavailable.
Key defender Hassane Kamara also joins the sidelines as he is suspended, whilst both Enzo Ebosse and Gerard Deulofeu remain long-term injury absentees.
PREDICTED XI (3-4-2-1): Okoye; Perez, Bijol, Giannetti; Ehizibue, Karlstrom, Payero, Ebosele; Thauvin, Brenner; Lucca
UNAVAILABLE: Ebosse (Injured), Kamara (Suspended), Gerard Deulofeu (Injured), Damian Pizarro (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE: Sanchez (Injured)
COMO TEAM NEWS: A FEW ISSUES
As mentioned, Como have been ambitious in terms of big names that they have brought into the club this summer but one of those arrivals, Raphael Varane, remains unavailable after picking up a knee injury.
As well as the 2018 FIFA World Cup winner, Como will also be without Oliver Abildgaard and Daniele Baselli, who are both sidelined for the visitors for this one.
PREDICTED XI (4-4-2): Pepe Reina; Alberto Moreno, Goldaniga, Barba, Sala; Strefezza, Braunoder, Engelhardt, Da Cunha; Cutrone, Belotti
UNAVAILABLE: Baselli (Injured), Varane (Injured), Abildgaard (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE:
UDINESE VS COMO PREDICTION
Como are, as one would expect with Cesc Fabregas at the helm, trying to play quite a progressive and possession-dominant style of football and there is an expectation he does get it right. However, with so many new faces through the door it may take some time and they now face a much-improved Udinese side looking to propel themselves back into being a top-half regular so Udinese, especially with home advantage, would be firm favourites.
UDINESE VS COMO TIP: UDINESE TO WIN
