Aiming to close the gap to their visitors in the Serie A standings, Udinese welcome mid-table Torino to the Dacia Arena on Sunday.

Trailing the Granata by eight points ahead of the clubs' clash, the 15th-placed hosts have picked up just a point from their three most recent games to drift back down the table.

Match preview

Still far from assured of Serie A safety - though they sit seven points clear of the drop zone with a game in hand on several bottom-half rivals - Udinese have endured a grim start to 2022.

With their opening foray delayed by a COVID-19 outbreak, the Bianconeri were thumped 6-2 by Atalanta and lost 2-0 to Juventus in a challenging opening pair of fixtures, before being held goalless by crisis club Genoa at the end of January.

Recently appointed coach Gabriele Cioffi also saw his side eliminated from the Coppa Italia by Lazio last month, as Ciro Immobile's extra-time winner ended their interest at the last-16 stage.

Udinese have won just three of their first 11 league games on home turf this term, contributing to the downfall of former boss Luca Gotti, and their recent record against Sunday evening's opponents does not inspire confidence either.

Having come out on top in only one of their last six Serie A home matches versus Torino - back in October 2019 - precedent as well as the form book is certainly against them this weekend.

In all, Torino have gone unbeaten in 10 of their last 12 league meetings against Udinese, winning each of the last two - including November's reverse fixture when Bremer scored what ultimately turned out to be the winner.

The Granata now approach the return having won their last away game at Sampdoria, after seven matches on the road without a single success. Though they last won two successive league games outside Turin as long ago as November 2019, they will surely fancy their chances of doing so in Udine.

Following a spell of four wins from five in Serie A, Ivan Juric's men were pegged back late on by Sassuolo last time out, with Giacomo Raspadori's 88th-minute equaliser denying the much-improved side another three points.

Indeed, Torino's only losses since the end of November have come against Sampdoria in the Coppa Italia and to reigning champions Inter, with Juric justifiably having his sights set on a top-half finish in May.

Only Inter and Napoli have conceded fewer goals this season, and they have been particularly impenetrable on home soil. However, with star striker Andrea Belotti sidelined by injury for much of the campaign, a meagre tally of six goals away from home has seen them pick up just two wins from 11 attempts on the road.

Team News

Udinese's pursuit of a fourth home win is set to be led by top scorer Beto, and he has netted four times in his last six Serie A appearances at the Dacia Arena - including both of the last two.

He will have a new strike partner to take on Torino's resolute defence, as Isaac Success is in line to replace the suspended Gerard Deulofeu up front.

Otherwise, coach Gabriele Cioffi seems intent on retaining the team that disappointingly drew with Genoa just before the break, as his only known injury absentee is Roberto Pereyra (shoulder).

Still out of action with a hamstring injury, Torino's first-choice striker Andrea Belotti joins January signing Mohamed Fares on the sidelines this week, so Antonio Sanabria continues to deputise as the focal point of a 3-4-2-1 formation for the visitors.

Due to a suspension for much-coveted defender Bremer, either Alessandro Buongiorno or Armando Izzo could fill in, with Kofi Djidji also available to return to the back three.

Meanwhile, Empoli midfielder Samuele Ricci and Monaco striker Pietro Pellegri, whose spell at Milan was cut short, have joined on loan and are likely to start on the bench.

Udinese possible starting lineup:
Silvestri; Becao, Nuytinck, Perez; Molina, Arslan, Walace, Makengo, Udogie; Success, Beto

Torino possible starting lineup:
Milinkovic-Savic; Izzo, Djidji, Rodriguez; Vojvoda, Lukic, Mandragora, Singo; Praet, Brekalo; Sanabria

We say: Udinese 1-1 Torino

Udinese are draw specialists and could be forced to settle for another single-point haul on Sunday, as they will find it tough to break Torino down.

The visitors have been cruising towards a top 10 finish thanks to their recent feats at home, but can at least grind out a respectable result on away soil.

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