Udinesevs.Venezia

The faltering Friulani have picked up just two points this year, while their visitors are improving but still sit inside the drop zone.

Match preview

Five days on from a chastening 4-1 loss in Como, Udinese returned home for last week's clash with mid-table rivals Roma, and Lorenzo Lucca's first-half strike put them on course for maximum points.

However, conceding two penalties after the break resulted in a 2-1 defeat for the Friuli club, who have now failed to win any of their last five league games - their joint-longest winless run under head coach Kosta Runjaic.

Udinese also remain one of two teams, along with Empoli, yet to gain any points from losing positions in Serie A this season, perhaps calling their character and resilience into question.

Now occupying 11th place, the Bianconeri have taken only three points from their last five outings, and results on home turf have particularly taken a nosedive.

Without a single victory in six home games - with a record of four goals scored and 11 conceded - they will aim to end that slump when lowly Venezia visit this weekend.

Though they came out on top in October's reverse fixture, via a brave fight back from two goals down at Stadio Penzo, Venezia's record away to Udinese could really use some improvement.

Winless in all five previous top-flight trips to Udine - losing each of the last three - the Lagunari will hope to turn that trend around, as their Serie A survival fight continues.

Showing distinct signs of life, Eusebio Di Francesco's side have claimed eight points from their last eight league matches, which is as many as throughout the first 14 of Venezia's latest comeback campaign.

Last term's Serie B playoff winners are still four points from safety, but it could have been a very different story: they have dropped the most points from winning positions across Europe's top five leagues this season.

That tally reached 24 on Monday, when Alessio Zerbin's debut goal was not enough to secure victory over regional rivals Hellas Verona, and the Arancioneroverdi had to settle for a 1-1 home draw.

If they are to have any chance of staying up, their record on the road must also improve: stretching back to their last stay in Italy's top flight, Venezia have gone 18 Serie A away games without a win, losing 13.

Udinese Serie A form:

W

D

D

D

L

L

Venezia Serie A form:

W

L

D

L

D

D

Team News

Kosta Runjaic will be without Kingsley Ehizibue, Isaak Toure, Lautaro Giannetti and first-choice goalkeeper Maduka Okoye through injury on Saturday afternoon, while midfield regular Jesper Karlstrom must serve a suspension.

Recent signing Oumar Solet is back in action after a ban, though, and he should slot into Udinese's three-man defence, taking the place of Toure.

Since the start of last season - his first in the Italian top flight - Lorenzo Lucca has scored 16 Serie A goals, and none from penalties. Only Inter Milan striker Marcus Thuram has managed more without spot-kicks, so Lucca will lead his team's attack once again.

Meanwhile, Venezia's main marksman Joel Pohjanpalo remains at the club for now, as a protracted move to Serie B side Palermo is still in the works.

After scoring against Verona, Alessio Zerbin should start in the Finnish forward's supporting cast, alongside Gaetano Oristanio.

The visitors' absence list features Michael Svoboda - who has been ruled out for the rest of the season - Marin Sverko, Richie Sagrado, Alfred Duncan and Domen Crnigoj.

Udinese possible starting lineup:

Sava; Kristensen, Bijol, Solet; Modesto, Ekkelenkamp, Lovric, Payero, ​​Zemura; Thauvin, Lucca

Venezia possible starting lineup:

Stankovic; Cande, Idzes, Haps; Zerbin, Doumbia, Nicolussi Caviglia, Busio, Zampano; Oristanio, Pohjanpalo

We say: Udinese 1-0 Venezia

Udinese's three-month wait for a home win should end, as Venezia are getting better but still have a soft centre.

Written by

Jonathan O'Shea

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