Still in the running for European football next season, deposed Serie A champions Napoli meet relegation-threatened Udinese on Monday evening.
While their visitors recently passed the Scudetto on to Inter Milan, the Fruilani are fighting for survival in the Italian top flight and have just four games left to defy the drop.
Match preview
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Stranded inside Serie A's bottom three, Udinese could soon relinquish their long-held top-tier status, as a side already deep in danger have picked up just two points from their last six matches.
Occupying 18th place in the table, the Friuli club recently suffered a bitter blow when losing to Roma, as the teams played out the final few minutes of their previously suspended contest; then, they could not overcome 10-man Bologna last time out.
Martin Payero's first-half strike put Udinese within touching distance of an unlikely away victory at Stadio Dall'Ara, but they conceded a late equaliser to Italy's fourth-placed side, despite having a one-man advantage.
While the Bianconeri now return to base, only already-relegated Salernitana have picked up fewer points in home games than their meagre tally of 12 this season - so far, they have won just one of 17 league matches as hosts.
New boss Fabio Cannavaro inherited a dire situation from former coach Gabriele Cioffi, and having grown up in Napoli's primavera - making his Serie A debut for the club in 1993 and then watching brother Paolo enjoy a long career with the Partenopei - he now needs to beat his beloved team on Monday.
However, Udinese have claimed only two points from their last 15 meetings with Napoli - conceding an average of nearly three goals per game in the process - and their last league win in this fixture came back in 2016, when Bruno Fernandes was on target for the Bianconeri.
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While their hosts' predicament is grim, Napoli have only won one of their last seven Serie A matches, after second-half goals from Mathias Olivera and Victor Osimhen were not quite enough to see off Roma last week.
Tammy Abraham snatched a late leveller for the away side at Stadio Maradona, leaving last year's champions six points adrift of the final guaranteed place in UEFA competition for next season.
Toiling to defend their crown under three different managers, Napoli have put a mere 50 points on the board so far, which is the same number they compiled after just the first half of their superb Scudetto-winning campaign.
Following his side's draw in the Derby del Sole, interim coach Francesco Calzona has won only three of his first 10 league matches, as rumours about the possible appointment of Antonio Conte bubble away in the background.
Though suggestions that the former Chelsea boss has signed a contract have already fizzled out, several other candidates are apparently being considered by controversial club president Aurelio Di Laurentiis, who is under pressure to choose the right man after making several missteps since Luciano Spalletti's departure.
Calzona will soon lead Slovakia into the Euro 2024 finals, but first he must negotiate a tricky run of games to end the Serie A season: fellow European contenders Fiorentina and Bologna are next up on Napoli's schedule, following the long trip north to Udine.
Team News
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Due to injury, Napoli will be without Piotr Zielinski (calf), Giacomo Raspadori (ankle), Leander Dendoncker (muscular) and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (thigh) on Monday evening.
Francesco Calzona's main selection issues regard choosing either Jens Cajuste or Hamed Traore to fill Zielinski's spot in central midfield, while Jesper Lindstrom and Cyril Ngonge battle it out to replace Kvaratskhelia on the left wing.
Sure to start up front, Victor Osimhen could join Zielinski in leaving Naples this summer; having scored in his last five games against Udinese, the Nigeria striker will be keen to bolster his goal tally.
Meanwhile, Udinese are missing Florian Thauvin, Sandi Lovric, Lautaro Giannetti, back-up goalkeeper Marco Silvestri and long-term absentee Gerard Deulofeu.
In addition to their injury woes, the Friulani cannot count on either Nehuen Perez or last week's goalscorer Martin Payero, who must both serve one-match suspensions.
Often linked with a move to Napoli, Lazar Samardzic should replace the latter in midfield; the Serbia international has scored twice in his last three league appearances against the Partenopei.
Udinese possible starting lineup:
Okoye; Ferreira, Bijol, Kristensen; Ehizibue, Zarraga, Walace, Samardzic, Kamara; Pereyra; Lucca
Napoli possible starting lineup:
Meret; Di Lorenzo, Jesus, Rrahmani, Olivera; Anguissa, Lobotka, Cajuste; Politano, Osimhen, Lindstrom
We say: Udinese 1-1 Napoli
Having drawn half of their league matches this season, Udinese could end up in Serie B as a result of failing to finish off ailing opponents. Napoli are often guilty of being wasteful in the final third, too, so a frustrating stalemate could be on the cards.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Jonathan O'Shea
