Croatia
Indonesia
Nigeria
South Africa

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

sportsmole.co.uk, 10 September 2021, 16:59
Udinese will look to build on a promising start to the season when they travel to Spezia Calcio on Sunday.

I Bianconeri have taken four points from their opening two Serie A games and sit sixth in the table, while their hosts are 15th with one point.

Match preview

There were suggestions that Udinese might struggle this season, particularly as last year's top scorer Rodrigo De Paul joined Atletico Madrid in the summer and has not truly been replaced in an attack that was already short of goals.

However, Luca Gotti's side drew 2-2 with Juventus on the opening weekend, before easing to a 3-0 win over newly-promoted Venezia a fortnight ago with goals from Ignacio Pussetto, Gerard Deulofeu and Nahuel Molina.

Sunday will be I Bianconeri's first away game of the campaign, and they actually picked up more points on the road last season (21) than they did at home (19) on the way to a second successive 13th-place finish.

Udinese have not finished inside the top half of the Serie A table since 2013, but they will be confident of keeping their unbeaten start of the season going in Liguria before hosting Napoli next weekend.

Spezia were last season's surprise package in Serie A, finishing 15th in their first ever top-flight campaign and taking points off both Milan clubs, Napoli and Roma.

However it has been a summer of change at Stadio Alberto Picco, with the squad being overhauled and Thiago Motta replacing Fiorentina-bound Vincenzo Italiano in the dugout.

Therefore there are questions whether Spezia can survive once again, and a 6-1 defeat to Lazio two weeks ago certainly set alarm bells ringing.

It followed a 2-2 draw with Cagliari on the opening weekend, in which Motta's side threw away a two goal lead.

Aquilotti have lost just one of their last nine home matches, but did lose 1-0 to Udinese at Stadio Alberto Picco last season.

Spezia Serie A form:

Spezia form (all competitions):

Udinese Serie A form:

Udinese form (all competitions):

Team News

Spezia will be without defender Kelvin Amian, who is suspended after his red card against Lazio before the international break.

Last season's top scorer M'Bala Nzola has not appeared so far in the new campaign after stating his desire to leave the club, but failed to secure a move away in the transfer window; Thiago Motta must now decide whether to bring the striker in from the cold.

Aquilotti made three deadline day signings and could hand them all debuts, including striker Rey Manaj who is on loan from Barcelona.

Luca Gotti could name an unchanged Udinese side after such a comprehensive win over Venezia a fortnight ago.

Gerard Deulofeu will be pushing for a start after coming off the bench to score in that game, while deadline day arrivals Beto and Brandon Soppy are in contention for their debuts.

Fernando Forestieri has returned to training after missing the opening two Serie A games of the season with a muscle injury.

Spezia possible starting lineup:

Zoet; Hristov, Nikolaou, Erlic; Vignali, Bourabia, Maggiore, Ferrer; Verde, Manaj, Colley

Udinese possible starting lineup:

Silvestri; Becao, Nuytinck, Samir; Molina, Arslan, Walace, Larsen; Pereyra; Pussetto, Deulofeu

We say: Spezia 1-2 Udinese

Udinese will be the more confident of the two sides going into this game, and we expect them to pick up three points, but Spezia's signing of Rey Manaj may give them a much-needed lift. Aquilotti have become known to defy the odds, so a home win is not impossible here.

Top News

24 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City expert Steven McInerney from Esteemed Kompany has questioned why the club and manager Pep Guardiola 'have not adapted" to the demands of the modern schedule as pressure mounts on one of the world's best coaches. 23 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United will look to bounce back from a heavy 3-0 defeat to Bournemouth when they travel to Molineux for their Boxing Day clash with Wolverhampton Wanderers. 23 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool have reportedly been dealt a blow in their quest to sign AC Milan attacker Christian Pulisic. 23 December 2024 talksport.com Arsenal's quest for a first Premier League title since 2004 is already in jeopardy - with the January transfer window coming at a perfect time. 23 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool have reportedly been dealt a blow in their quest to sign AC Milan attacker Christian Pulisic. 23 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City have reportedly identified Juventus goalkeeper Michele Di Gregorio as a potential replacement for their current number one Ederson. 23 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim has questioned Marcus Rashford's team after the forward recently admitted he could leave the club in the near future. 23 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Brentford head coach Thomas Frank has revealed that Kristoffer Ajer suffered an ankle injury at the weekend. 23 December 2024 talksport.com Ruben Amorim says Marcus Rashford has created a 'hard situation' after declaring he is seeking a Manchester United exit. 23 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk There is a legitimate case that Mohamed Salah is the Premier League's best ever player, and he could surpass Thierry Henry sooner rather than later, according to Liverpool expert David Lynch. 23 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool's 6-3 victory against Tottenham Hotspur proves that the club are the most complete side in the Premier League, and their title rivals should fear them, according to Reds expert David Lynch. 23 December 2024 talksport.com Three years have passed since Zinedine Zidane last took to the dugout - but he is in no rush to return. 23 December 2024 talksport.com Manchester United are in desperate need of a response when they travel to struggling Wolves on Boxing Day, live on talkSPORT. 23 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea are readying an offer of €60m (£49.8m) for the signature of AC Milan midfielder Youssouf Fofana, according to a report. 23 December 2024 talksport.com Ruben Amorim has refused to rule out a return for Manchester United outcast Marcus Rashford against Wolves on Boxing Day. 23 December 2024 talksport.com Arsenal will not be playing on Boxing Day this year as they welcome Ipswich to the Emirates on Friday night instead. 23 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Real Sociedad sporting director Roberto Olabe has affirmed that he does not expect Liverpool-linked midfielder Martin Zubimendi to push for an exit during the January transfer window. 23 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool skipper Virgil van Dijk has insisted that there is "no deadline" to sign a new contract at Anfield as he prepares to enter the last six months of his current terms. 23 December 2024 talksport.com Liverpool will be looking to extend their lead at the top of the Premier League table against Leicester in Boxing Day's late kick-off. 23 December 2024 talksport.com Mason Mount is set for another lengthy injury absence, talkSPORT understands. 23 December 2024 talksport.com Liverpool will face Leicester City on Boxing Day, live on talkSPORT, after celebrating Christmas at the top of the Premier League table. 23 December 2024 talksport.com Kai Havertz could move to the Arsenal right wing following the injury blow to Bukayo Saka. 23 December 2024 talksport.com Michael Owen has slammed the Aston Villa supporters who booed Jack Grealish - and told them to 'hang your heads in shame'. 23 December 2024 talksport.com Former Manchester City star Jesus Navas couldn't hold back the tears as he was given an emotional send-off before his retirement. 23 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has confirmed that he expects Bukayo Saka to be out for "many weeks" with the hamstring injury he suffered in Saturday's 5-1 Premier League win over Crystal Palace. 23 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea are reportedly struggling to attract offers for one of their fringe players ahead of the January transfer window. 23 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly interested in signing Everton defender Ben Godfrey. 23 December 2024 talksport.com Gareth Southgate had an Adele hit on repeat before stepping down as England manager. 23 December 2024 talksport.com Arsenal star Bukayo Saka is set to be ruled out until February, talkSPORT understands. 23 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea have reportedly identified a Sporting Lisbon youngster as a potential signing for Strasbourg.