18 September 2021, 18:37 | 28 August 2021, 15:29
The Italian Serie A TIM fixture, Udinese Calcio vs. S.S.C. Napoli, kicks off at 19:45 (GMT+1) on Monday, September 20 at the Stadio Friuli.
Preview Udinese Serie A, Sep 20, 2021
Preview Udinese return to Serie A action having not participated in any form of European football over the week. On Matchday 3, the club picked up a narrow 1-0 win over Spezia at the Stadio Alberto Picco. Pussetto had forced a save from Spezia's goalkeeper before Marco Silvestri was called into action, - twice at the other end. An off-the-goal-line header kept Udinese in the game before Lazar Samardžić (89') broke the deadlock with a minute left on the clock. Unbeaten, and with back-to-back victories, the win moved Udinese to 5th place in the Serie A standings, having picked up 7 points after 2W, 1D, & 0L (WWD). Manager Luca Gotti could line up with the dynamic 3—5—2 formation in a bid to balance attack and defense against Napoli's high pressing game. In attack, we could see the likes of Pussetto and Gerard Deulofeu form another striking partnership on Matchday 4. Gerard Deulofeu has scored at least one goal in his last three games at the Stadio Friuli and could be the next Udinese player to score in four consecutive Serie A home games. The last player to do so was Udinese's Antonio Di Natale back in the month of December in 2014. Destiny Udogie (Calf injury) and Jan Kubala remain in doubt for this Matchday 4 fixture against Napoli.
Preview Napoli Serie A, Sep 20, 2021
Preview Napoli are back in Serie A after a 2-2 draw against Leicester City in Thursday's Europa League opener at the King Power Stadium. The Nigerian, Victor Osimhen, produced a brace (69' & 87') to earn Napoli a point in the Group C encounter which saw Napoli with a two-goal deficit, minutes past the hour mark. On Matchday 3, Napoli defeated Juventus 2-1 in another Serie A encounter. Alvaro Morata (10') had put the Old Lady in front minutes into the game. But a goal from Matteo Politano (57') levelled the score line. Napoli pressed for the second and five minutes before the end of normal time, an unmarked Koulibaly (85') tucked the ball into the back of the net for the winner. The victory leaves Napoli in 3rd place, with 9 points after three consecutive victories, WWW (3W, 0D & 0L). A win over Udinese on Monday could leave Napoli at the top of the table, having in mind favorable results over the weekend. An attacking 4—2—3—1 formation with the Nigerian forward, Victor Osimhen, serving as the focal point in attack on the trip to the Stadio Friuli, is expected. Luciano Spalletti could be without Diego Demme and Stanislav Lobotka on Monday.