Udinese will be looking to snap a worrying winless streak when they host Genoa at the Bluenergy Stadium in Sunday's gameweek 14 Serie A action.
The Friulians have struggled in recent weeks, failing to win in four straight games, while the away side hope to shake off the disappointment of dropping two points in Patrick Vieira's first match against Cagliari last weekend.
Match preview
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Udinese have endured a difficult spell, losing three of their last four matches — against Venezia (2-3), Juventus (0-2), and Atalanta BC (1-2) — and drawing the other against Empoli (1-1).
This poor run of form has seen Kosta Runjaic's team slide down the table, and they currently sit in ninth place before this weekend's games.
The Little Zebras have struggled since matchday five, securing fewer points than most teams in the league, picking seven points from nine games, having claimed 10 from the campaign's opening four rounds (three wins, one draw).
Although their tally of seven points during the ongoing wretched run outdoes only three Serie A sides — Hellas Verona, Monza and this weekend's opponents (all have accrued six points) — Udinese hope to claim maximum points for the first time since October 25 — a 2-0 success over Cagliari.
Their historic positive home record against Genoa stands them in good stead, with the Friulians' nine clean sheets in 14 home matches against Sunday's visitors since the 2009-10 season more than against any other away opponent.
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Despite that unfavourable record in Udine, Vieira's men hope to exploit their hosts' four-match winless sequence, seeking their first win under the Frenchman after last weekend's disappointment against Cagliari.
Having played commendably to turn around an early deficit to lead 2-1 following goals from Morten Frendrup and Fabio Miretti, the concession of a second penalty in the final minute of the 90 saw the game end 2-2.
Vieira hopes his players shake off the negative feeling of letting in a late goal against Cagliari this weekend, keen to extend their unbeaten run to four after beating Parma (1-0) and securing consecutive points against Como and the Sardinians.
That hard-fought win at Parma came on the road, and a similar outcome will be what the doctor ordered for the 17th-placed side, whose two wins in 2024-25 have been away from Liguria.
Failure this weekend could see the Rossoblu (11 points) slip into the bottom three, with Como (10 points), Monza (nine) and Venezia (eight) close to the Grifone.
Team News
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Jaka Bijol had played every minute for Udinese in the opening 13 rounds, but the centre-back will miss out this weekend after picking his fifth yellow card of 24-25 in the 1-1 draw with Empoli.
Although Alexis Sanchez (thigh) has reportedly returned to training, this weekend should come too soon for the Chilean, while Martin Payero and Gerard Deulofeu are not expected back for the Little Zebras.
Vieira's men could be without Ruslan Malinovskyi, Caleb Ekuban, Jeff Ekhator and Koni De Winter in Sunday's lunchtime match in Udine.
Despite firing blanks against Como and Cagliari, Andrea Pinamonti hopes to add to his four Serie A goals for a Genoa side keen to claim a third road victory this term.
Udinese possible starting lineup:
Okoye; Kabasele, Giannetti, Toure; Ehizibue, Lovric, Karlstrom, Zarraga, Zemura; Thauvin, Davis
Genoa possible starting lineup:
Leali; Sabelli, Bani, Vasquez, Martin; Thorsby, Badelj, Frendrup; Zanoli, Pinamonti, Miretti
We say: Udinese 1-1 Genoa
While Udinese have struggled for results, their home form against Genoa has been historically strong.
However, the visitors will be encouraged by their recent three-match undefeated sequence entering this weekend and aim to capitalise on the Friulians' vulnerability to nick a point in Udine.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
