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

The visitors are currently rock bottom of the table, 10 points from the safety of 17th position, while Udinese are 12th, boasting 43 points from their 33 matches this term.

Match preview

Udinese held Napoli to a 1-1 draw on Thursday evening, but the result allowed Luciano Spalletti's side to be confirmed as champions with five games left to play.

The White and Blacks will now be looking to build on the positive result when they host Sampdoria, but there is not too much for the hosts to play for in the latter stages of the campaign.

Indeed, a total of 43 points from 33 matches has left Udinese in 12th position in the table, 16 points ahead of the bottom three - so they can no longer be relegated - while they are 15 points off the top six.

Andrea Sottil's side, who finished 12th in Serie A last season, have actually only lost twice at home in the league this season, but they have been the draw specialists, sharing the points on nine occasions in front of their own supporters.

Udinese have also won their last two matches against Sampdoria, including a 1-0 victory when the two teams locked horns for the reverse game towards the end of January.

Sampdoria have not played outside of Serie A since the 2011-12 campaign and have actually finished ninth in two of their last four seasons at this level of football.

La Samp have found it incredibly difficult this term, though, winning just three of their 33 league matches, drawing another eight, to collect 17 points, which has left them bottom of the table.

Dejan Stankovic's side are 10 points from the safety of 17th position, although Spezia, who currently occupy that spot, will have the chance to move 13 points ahead when they travel to Cremonese on Saturday.

Lecce in 16th are in action on Sunday, meanwhile, so there is a chance that the picture could have changed by the time that this match kicks off, but Sampdoria will almost certainly need to win their last five league games of the season to stand a chance of completing what would be a great escape.

The strugglers have found it difficult on their travels in the league this season, though, picking up just nine points from 16 matches, while they are winless in their last six Serie A matches, including losses to Fiorentina and Torino in their last two.

Udinese Serie A form:

L

D

L

W

L

D

Sampdoria Serie A form:

L

L

D

D

L

L

Team News

Udinese will again be missing three players on Monday evening through injury, with Isaac Success, Enzo Ebosse and Gerard Deulofeu on the treatment table.

The hosts have no fresh concerns from their draw with Napoli last time out, though, so it would not be a surprise to see the same XI take to the field for this contest.

Ilija Nestorovski led the line against the champions with support from Roberto Pereyra and that is again expected to be the case in Monday's fixture.

As for Sampdoria, Emil Audero, Andrea Conti and Ignacio Pussetto will miss the match due to fitness issues.

Meanwhile, the basement side will also be without the services of Bruno Amione, who was sent off in the final exchanges of the 2-0 home defeat to Torino last week.

Head coach Stankovic is expected to resist the temptation to make wholesale changes to his side, but Koray Gunter is set to come into the XI, while Lorenzo Malagrida could also start here.

Udinese possible starting lineup:

Silvestri; Becao, Bijol, Perez; Ehizibue, Samardzic, Walace, Lovric, Udogie; Pereyra; Nestorovski

Sampdoria possible starting lineup:

Ravaglia; Oikonomou, Nuytinck, Gunter; Zanoli, Winks, Rincon, Augello; Malagrida; Gabbiadini, Lamers

We say: Udinese 1-0 Sampdoria

Udinese have only actually won one of their last six league matches, but they will be expecting to collect all three points on Monday. Sampdoria appear destined to drop into Serie B for next term, and we are can see the strugglers suffering their 23rd league loss of a difficult season in this game.

Previews by email