Udinesevs.Empoli

The Fruilani held Serie A leaders Napoli to a draw last week, while their ailing visitors lost for the fourth time in five games.

Match preview

Going toe-to-toe with Italy's top team at Stadio Maradona, Udinese were good value for their point as they frustrated first-placed Napoli last weekend.

The Fruilani spurned several chances before Scott McTominay opened the scoring, but Jurgen Ekkelenkamp spectacularly struck back moments later to level matters in Naples.

As a result, Kosta Runjaic's side have settled for four draws in their last seven league games - as many as throughout the previous 21 - and still sit 10th in the Serie A standings.

Runjaic has made quite an impact at a club that narrowly survived demotion just a few months ago, as Udinese have also held Bologna and Atalanta BC this season, in addition to beating Fiorentina and Lazio.

Undefeated in six games against Empoli, the Bianconeri have lost just two of 15 top-flight home matches versus this week's visitors. In the process, they have also scored twice as many goals as their Tuscan counterparts.

Following a 1-1 draw in November's reverse fixture - when Keinan Davis denied Empoli maximum points with a late leveller - the two sides have drawn each of their last three league meetings.

Still winless in 2025, the Azzurri suffered a 2-0 loss to AC Milan last time out, when they were on course for at least one point against 10-man opponents until Luca Marianucci was senselessly sent off.

Across the last nine matchdays, Empoli have picked up the fewest points, leaving them just one point above the drop zone and facing another scrap for Serie A survival.

Upmost in Roberto D'Aversa list of concerns must be some serious second-half issues: his team are the only side yet to claim any points by scoring in the final 30 minutes this season, also dropping the most (14) from goals conceded during the last half-hour.

Now, the Tuscan side face a particularly tough end to February. After making the long trip north to Udine, they will host Atalanta, then meet Juventus in the Coppa Italia quarter-finals.

Udinese Serie A form:

D

D

L

L

W

D

Empoli Serie A form:

D

L

L

D

L

L

Team News

After adjusting his tactics to pair Florian Thauvin and Lorenzo Lucca in a 4-4-2 last weekend, it remains to be seen how Kosta Runjaic will set Udinese up on Sunday.

Lucca needs one more goal to hit double figures for the first time in a single Serie A season; Thauvin and Alexis Sanchez will again compete to support him.

Only Isaak Toure (knee) and goalkeeper Maduka Okoye (wrist) are unavailable due to injury, while Empoli's absence list is much longer.

Ola Solbakken, Pietro Pellegri, Nicolas Haas, Saba Sazonov, Mattia Viti and Tyronne Ebuehi all feature - and three other potential starters are doubtful. Tino Anjorin, Jacopo Fazzini and key defender Ardian Ismajli face fitness tests.

Though Youssef Maleh can return after serving a one-match ban, Luca Marianucci is now suspended following his dismissal against Milan.

Starting up front, Sebastiano Esposito has scored seven of his eight league goals away from home; he only needs one more to equal Empoli's record for goals on the road in a single Serie A campaign.

Udinese possible starting lineup:

Sava; Kristensen, Bijol, Solet, Kamara; Lovric, Karlstrom, Payero; Ekkelenkamp, Thauvin; Lucca

Empoli possible starting lineup:

Vasquez; De Sciglio, Goglichidze, Pezzella; Gyasi, Henderson, Grassi, Maleh, Cacace; Esposito, Colombo

We say: Udinese 1-0 Empoli

Udinese should be full of confidence after starting the month in fine style, while injury-hit Empoli are trapped in a downward spiral.

Written by

Jonathan O'Shea

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