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

sportsmole.co.uk, 31 August 2023, 14:49
Udinese return to Dacia Arena on Saturday seeking their first Serie A victory of the new season against newly-promoted Frosinone.

The Udine outfit are winless after two games, while their visitors secured a stunning victory over Atalanta last weekend.

Match preview

Udinese were unfortunate to play Juventus in breathtaking form in round one, losing 3-0 to Massimiliano Allegri's troops, with every goal coming in the first half.

Andrea Sottil's men responded with a 1-1 draw at Salernitana in the previous gameweek, a tie that should not surprise observers due to their opponent's tendency to play out stalemates.

Returning to their stomping ground should motivate a side whose better showings last season came in Udine.

The Little Zebras lost only four times at their ground in 2022-23, with two defeats coming at the backend of the campaign when they had little to play for, underscoring their strength at home.

Sottil's men will back themselves to be third-time lucky this weekend as they seek to banish the memory of that first-half humbling against Juventus a fortnight back.

As for Frosinone, the league returnees play their first away game since regaining promotion to the big time at Udinese.

Eusebio Di Francesco's men were defeated by defending Serie A champions Napoli in round one, but they claimed a scalp of Atalanta last weekend, defeating the Bergamaschi 2-1.

The Canaries have tended to start games on the front foot, underlined by early goals against the Partenopei and La Dea, and it remains to be seen if they show the same version of themselves on Saturday.

Playing away from home means Frosinone will not be as proactive in the opening minutes of the game, and a different approach would be surprising.

Having secured nine points away from home in 2016-16 and 16 in 2018-19, Di Francesco seeks to outdo that tally for a side many are tipping to end in the bottom three again.

Udinese Serie A form:

L

D

Udinese form (all competitions):

W

L

D

Frosinone Serie A form:

L

W

Frosinone form (all competitions):

W

L

W

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Team News

Udinese have a lengthy injury list, with Gerard Deulofeu, Enzo Ebosse, Kingsley Ehizibue, Simone Pafundi, Brenner, Adam Masina and Daniele Padelli all ruled out this weekend.

With Beto sold to Everton, Lorenzo Lucca is expected to start up top alongside Florian Thauvin, while Lazar Samardzic should play from the off as well following his reintegration to the side after a failed move to Inter Milan.

Stefano Turati should return to the side after serving his one-game ban for swearing in gameweek one's defeat against Napoli.

Frosinone have no new injury worries, but Karlo Lulic and Sergio Kalaj are sidelined.

Abdou Harroui has profited from the new boys' fast starts, scoring in the opening seven minutes against Napoli and Atalanta, and the Moroccan is expected to start on Saturday.

Udinese possible starting lineup:

Silvestri; Perez, Bijol, Kabasele; Ferreira, Samardzic, Walace, Lovric, Kamara; Thauvin, Lucca

Frosinone possible starting lineup:

Turati; Oyono, Monterisi, Romagnoli, Marchizza; Mazzitelli, Barrenechea; Gelli, Harroui, Baez; Cuni

We say: Udinese 2-2 Frosinone

Udinese's games at Dacia Arena in 22-23 were high-scoring and entertaining, and they are not expected to change tack this season.

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