Udinese vs Lecce Preview & Prediction | 2024-25 Italian Serie A
Click here for today’s sports betting tips from our expert analysts!
Up in Friuli this week, the fast starters and still high flyers of Udinese will be looking to get back on the winning track this weekend as they take on a Lecce side that have struggled at the start of this campaign.
KICK-OFF DATE/TIME: Saturday 5th October, 2024 - UK – 2:00pm / US ET – 9:00am / US PT – 6:00am
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 – Cannot be streamed / US – Paramount+
UDINESE PREVIEW: FRIULIANS NEED TO FIND THE FLUENCY
Under the management of former Legia Warsaw boss Kosta Runjaic, Udinese had benefitted from the Pozzo family turning their attention back to them at the start of this season as they try and push towards the middle-of-the-table this time around after avoiding the drop on the final day of last year.
They did start without a defeat and collected ten points in their opening four matches but now come into this one on the back of back-to-back losses. Their most recent outing saw them face defending champions Internazionale in the north east last weekend but the game wasn’t as close as the scoreline does suggest.
LECCE PREVIEW: LECCE LANGUISHING
Last season, following the sacking of Luca Gotti during the March international break, Luca Gotti helped Lecce propel themselves away from the bottom three and the relegation places in the final couple of months of the season. However, the Apulia-based club are actually already looking like they may be involved in another nail-biting finish.
The visitors come into this one on the back of a 3-0 hammering at the hands of AC Milan at San Siro in their most recent outing, last weekend, with all three goals coming before half-time. That means they have managed just one victory in their last seven matches across all competitions since a Coppa Italia first round win against Serie B side Mantova in mid-August.
UDINESE TEAM NEWS: STILL NO ALEXIS
The return of Alexis Sanchez was one of the statement signings this summer by the Pozzo’s but the Chilean forward remains unavailable for this one, or at least a major doubt.
As well as the former Arsenal forward, Udinese remain without defender Lautaro Giannetti as well as former Middlesbrough midfielder Martin Payero due to injury.
PREDICTED XI (3-5-2): Okoye; Kabasele, Bijol, Toure; Ehizibue, Lovric, Karlstrom, Zarraga, Zemura; Thauvin, Davis
UNAVAILABLE: Giannetti (Injured), Payero (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE: Sanchez (Injured)
LECCE TEAM NEWS: KEY INJURIES
There are a couple of key injury issues for Lecce to contend with joining midfielder and long-term absentee Mohamed Kaba on their injury list for this weekend.
As well as Kaba in midfield, both Medon Berisha and Kevin Bonifazi are new injury concerns for the visitors to contend with as they seek a result up in Friuli.
PREDICTED XI (3-4-3): Falcone; Dorgu, Gaspar, Baschirotto, Gallo; Ramadani, Pierret, Coulibaly; Morente, Krstovic, Rebic
UNAVAILABLE: Bonifazi (Injured), Berisha (Injured), Kaba (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE:
UDINESE VS LECCE PREDICTION
Udinese come into this looking to right a few wrongs of the recent past and they will believe they should be a dominant force in this game as they look to re-establish their early season form. Lecce are a side that have tended to set up really defensively ever since the appointment of Gotti and that is unlikely to change but Udinese remain firm favourites, albeit it could be a rare low-scoring fixture for them.
UDINESE VS LECCE TIP: UDINESE TO WIN & UNDER 3.5 GOALS
