SM
Liverpool vs. PSG: 10 hrs 28 mins
Upcoming predictions and previews
Collect News Data
UL
Serie A | Gameweek 37
May 14, 2022 at 5pm UK
Stadio Friuli
SC

Udinese
2 - 3
Spezia

Molina (26'), Mari (90+4')
Nuytinck (18'), Pereyra (72'), Arslan (90+5')
FT(HT: 1-2)
Verde (35'), Gyasi (45+3'), Maggiore (47')
Gyasi (19'), Kiwior (80')

Preview: Udinese vs. Spezia - prediction, team news, lineups

:Headline: Preview: Udinese vs. Spezia - prediction, team news, lineups:
Sports Mole previews Saturday's Serie A clash between Udinese and Spezia, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Sports Mole

Still not safe from relegation, struggling Spezia travel to mid-table Udinese on Saturday, following a run of four successive defeats.

Before their penultimate league fixture, the Aquilotti are just four points above the Serie A drop zone, while their hosts can still post a top-half finish.


Match preview

After a late collapse in their previous game - a 4-3 home defeat by Lazio - when Spezia arrived in Bergamo last weekend, they were still short of achieving their season's objective: survival.

Managing only a single shot on target - which resulted in Daniele Verde's first-half equaliser - the Ligurian side were ultimately beaten 3-1 by Atalanta, who have been vulnerable on home soil this term.

Leaving them 16th and suspended just above both Cagliari and resurgent Salernitana, their final two matches of the 2021-22 campaign could be decisive. With next week's finale coming against third-placed Napoli, the need to take points on Saturday evening is particularly pressing.

Spezia's second-ever season in Serie A has been far from plain sailing under head coach Thiago Motta, and an alarming dip in form has afflicted them over the past couple of months: since February, only rock-bottom Venezia have lost more times in Serie A.

Indeed, a run of nine defeats from their last 13 league outings - including each of the last four - means that Motta's men may need a win in Udine if they are to enjoy their closing game stress-free.

Since winning 1-0 in La Spezia to claim a rare away victory from September's reverse fixture, Udinese endured a worrying decline towards the bottom three, before recovering under new boss Gabriele Cioffi, who has led them to the safety of mid-table.

Having previously beaten Fiorentina and been narrowly edged out by Scudetto hopefuls Inter in a 2-1 defeat, last week the Bianconeri managed to hold mercurial Sassuolo to a 1-1 draw at the Mapei Stadium; going unbeaten in four consecutive away games for the first time since 2020.

A 77th-minute equaliser from the unlikely source of Dutch defender Bram Nuytinck added another point to Udinese's total, and keeps the Friulani within three points of a top ten place.

Trailing both Sassuolo and Torino by that margin heading into their final home fixture of the campaign, Cioffi's men are set to face Spezia's relegation rivals Salernitana on the last day, so could have a significant say in which team tumbles through the trapdoor to Serie B.

Thanks to their new coach's input, and the return to form and fitness of Spanish forward Gerard Deulofeu, that fate will certainly not befall 12th-placed Udinese, who are assured of their place on the Serie A start line for a 27th straight season.

Udinese Serie A form:
  • W
  • L
  • D
  • W
  • L
  • D

Spezia Serie A form:
  • W
  • D
  • L
  • L
  • L
  • L


Team News

Spezia coach Thiago Motta has been dealt a major blow ahead of Saturday's game, as he will be without his captain Simone Bastoni at the Dacia Arena due to a dislocated shoulder suffered against Atalanta last week.

Therefore, Polish full-back Arkadiusz Reca should be drafted in on the left flank, while regular goalkeeper Ivan Provedel is expected to return ahead of Jeroen Zoet, who enjoyed a rare start last time out.

Albanian striker Rey Manaj, in the penultimate match of his initial loan spell from Barcelona, will also hope for a recall up front; Janis Antiste could make way.

Meanwhile, Udinese are also forced into a change in defence, as Rodrigo Becao must serve a one-match suspension for accumulated bookings. That opens the door for Bram Nuytinck to start in the hosts' back three, following his goal as a substitute against Sassuolo.

First-choice centre-forward Beto is still struggling with a hamstring problem and remains a doubt, so Ignacio Pussetto should retain his place up front if Isaac Success stays sidelined by injury. Twelve-goal top scorer Gerard Deulofeu once again carries the Bianconeri's creative burden.

Udinese possible starting lineup:
Silvestri; Nuytinck, Mari, Perez; Molina, Makengo, Walace, Pereyra, Udogie; Deulofeu, Pussetto

Spezia possible starting lineup:
Provedel; Amian, Erlic, Nikolaou, Reca; Maggiore, Kiwior; Verde, Agudelo, Gyasi; Manaj


We say: Udinese 2-1 Spezia

Spezia's fight for survival may go down to the final 90 minutes of a testing campaign - depending on the results of their fellow strugglers - as they are likely to return from Friuli empty-handed, given an away record which features just four wins from 18 previous attempts.

Also conceding at a rate of over two goals per game on the road, the Aquilotti are set to be denied even a precious point by their hosts, who have improved offensively of late and tend to make the most of home advantage.




Top tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting a home win in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Home Win:data



body check tags ::

Previews by email

Click here to get Sports Mole's daily email of previews and predictions for every major game!


amp_article__485554 : Collect and Make Data not in DataBase  : 
last updated article - 2024-06-05 13:01:01:
html db last update - 2024-06-05 13:01:01 :

ex - 7200 : read : write cache and make html
Read more!
Share this article now:


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!
Recommended Next on SM
Saturday's Serie A predictions including Sampdoria vs. Genoa
Nine clubs represented: Sports Mole's Premier League Team of the Week
Yoro injury confirmed: Will Man United defender miss Real Sociedad clash?
Preview: Lazio vs. Udinese - prediction, team news, lineups
Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Inter Milan28187363273661
2Napoli28186445232260
3Atalanta BCAtalanta28177463263758
4Juventus281313245252052
5Lazio28156750361451
6Bologna281311444341050
7Roma28137843301346
8Fiorentina28136943301345
9AC Milan28128842321044
10Udinese28117103538-340
11Torino2881193334-135
12Genoa28711102636-1032
13Como2878133444-1029
14CagliariCagliari2868142843-1526
15Hellas VeronaHellas Verona2882182858-3026
16Lecce2867152046-2625
17Parma2859143448-1424
18Empoli28410142345-2222
19VeneziaVenezia28310152342-1919
20Monza2828182348-2514
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

history www

Tuesday's Champions League predictions including Liverpool vs. PSG

1

TC

Preview: Spurs vs. AZ - prediction, team news, lineups

2

PS

Nine clubs represented: Sports Mole's Premier League Team of the Week

NEW

3

NC

Preview: Boston Celtics vs. Oklahoma City Thunder - prediction, team news, form guide

NEW

4

PB

Tuesday's Championship predictions including Burnley vs. West Brom

5

TC

Slot provides Gakpo injury update before PSG fixture

6

SP

Preview: Arsenal vs. PSV - prediction, team news, lineups

7

PA

Ratcliffe slams "overpaid" and "not good enough" Man United players

8

RS

Ratcliffe admits Ten Hag "error" as he delivers Amorim verdict

9

RA

Preview: Atletico vs. Real Madrid - prediction, team news, lineups

10

PA


. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .