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

The visitors, meanwhile, could win for the third time in their last four matches.

Match preview

Having flown out of the traps with 19 points from their opening eight league games this season, Udinese significantly slowed down prior to the domestic season being paused for the World Cup.

Five draws and two defeats saw Andrea Sottil's side drop to eighth in the table, although having failed to claim a top-half finish since the 2012-13 season, that still represents a hugely successful return at this stage of the campaign.

However, Sottil will be keen to ensure that his side's early form does not go without being rewarded, with a home match against Empoli on Wednesday providing an excellent opportunity to start 2023 by returning to winning ways.

With only five goals scored in their last six matches - two of which surprisingly came in a defeat against the runaway leaders Napoli - it is fairly evident which area of the pitch needs addressing if they are to rediscover their winning touch.

Empoli, meanwhile, managed to move 10 points clear of the relegation zone prior to the break by winning two of their last three matches.

Indeed, their 2-0 win against 18th-placed Cremonese was a vital victory, with strikes from Nicolo Cambiaghi and Fabiano Parisi after the half-time interval ensuring that Gli Azzurri head into the New Year with real breathing space in their favour.

Paolo Zanetti will be aware of how quickly the tide can turn against him, though, having been sacked by Venezia earlier this year despite ending their 19-year exile from Serie A by guiding them to promotion from the second tier.

Still, history looks unlikely to repeat itself in that regard in the short term at least, but Zanetti will be hoping that his side can earn a share of the spoils at least on Wednesday given their forthcoming opponents' struggles to turn draws into wins of late.

Udinese Serie A form:

D

L

D

D

D

L

Udinese form (all competitions):

L

L

D

D

D

L

Empoli Serie A form:

W

L

L

W

L

W

Team News

Udinese will remain without Adam Masina, who may not feature again this season due to an anterior cruciate ligament rupture, while Gerard Deulofeu is a doubt due to a foot injury.

Should the former Watford forward be deemed unavailable, Isaac Success could replace him in attack.

Empoli, meanwhile, may be without a key forward themselves with Mattia Destro struggling with a calf issue.

Zanetti may look to name the same starting XI which dispatched of Cremonese in their last match prior to the World Cup.

Udinese possible starting lineup:

Silvestri; Perez, Bijol, Ebosse; Ehizibue, Lovric, Walace, Arslan, Pereyra; Beto, Success

Empoli possible starting lineup:

Vicario; Ebuehi, Ismajli, Walukiewicz, Parisi; Grassi, Akpa-Akpro, Bandinelli, Bajrami; Satriano, Lammers

We say: Udinese 0-0 Empoli

Neither team have exactly been free-scoring in recent matches, so we expect a tight match which may see both managers settle for a point in the end.

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