Veneziavs.Udinese

Victory last weekend kept the Friulani among several sides chasing league leaders Napoli, while Venezia's disappointing draw in Monza left them second-bottom of the standings.

Match preview

Heading into Sunday's clash with fellow strugglers Monza, an ailing Venezia side had suffered five defeats in six games, essentially confirming their status as relegation favourites.

Last season's Serie B playoff winners had hope of picking up maximum points when Mikael Egill Ellertsson fired into the top corner after 15 minutes, but they allowed their hosts to twice fight back from behind to snatch a 2-2 draw.

Even when Monza were reduced to 10 men, the Lagunari failed to find a late winner, so they lie 19th in the table with five points from nine matches.

In addition to a first-round Coppa Italia exit in August, head coach Eusebio Di Francesco has still overseen just one league win since stepping in after Paolo Vanoli departed for Torino during the summer.

Though that sole success did come on home turf, Venezia have scored only twice in three fixtures at Stadio Penzo, leaving Di Francesco under pressure to produce an upturn in three games leading up to the next international break.

So far this season, firepower has not been a problem for Udinese, whose 2-0 victory over Cagliari on Friday evening secured their spot in Serie A's top seven.

Goals from forward pair Lorenzo Lucca and Keinan Davis punished the Friulani's visitors from Sardinia, who had been reduced to 10 men on the half-hour mark.

Level with Lazio, Atalanta BC and Fiorentina, a tally of 16 points sees Udinese flying high above the relegation battle they took part in last season - albeit it is still early days for the Bianconeri.

Head coach Kosta Runjaic took over a team that came dangerously close to demotion in May, but they are now within six points of early pace-setters Napoli after nine rounds.

In addition to five league wins, his team have twice secured progress in the Coppa Italia, setting up a last-16 tie with Inter Milan in December; however, they face a few tough tests between now and then - namely Juventus, Atalanta and Napoli.

Venezia Serie A form:

L

W

L

L

L

D

Udinese Serie A form:

W

L

L

W

L

W

Udinese form (all competitions):

L

W

L

W

L

W

Team News

Eusebio Di Francesco was without both Marin Sverko and Bjarki Bjarkason against Monza, but the latter may be Venezia's only injury absentee for Wednesday's game.

Ahead of meeting Inter at the weekend, the hosts could opt for some changes in a rare midweek fixture, with Antonio Candela and Hans Nicolussi Caviglia among several players pushing for promotion from the bench.

Top scorer Joel Pohjanpalo should start again, though, linking up with Gaetano Oristanio and Gianluca Busio in the final third.

Meanwhile, Udinese's Italy striker Lorenzo Lucca has been suggested as a January transfer target for several Serie A heavyweights, having scored four goals in the current league campaign.

Keinan Davis or Iker Bravo could partner him at Stadio Penzo, with fellow forwards Alexis Sanchez (calf) and Florian Thauvin (hip) in the treatment room; the latter has a chance of returning to the squad after his fine start to the season was disrupted by injury.

Danish defender Thomas Kristensen is the Bianconeri's only other absentee, so Runjaic has plenty of options available should he wish to rotate his squad three days before facing Juventus.

Venezia possible starting lineup:

Stankovic; Candela, Svoboda, Idzes; Zampano, Duncan, Nicolussi Caviglia, Ellertsson; Busio, Oristanio; Pohjanpalo

Udinese possible starting lineup:

Okoye; Kabasele, Bijol, Toure; Ehizibue, Lovric, Karlstrom, Zarraga, Zemura; Bravo, Lucca

We say: Venezia 1-1 Udinese

Although they were unable to hold on for a win at the weekend, Venezia did score twice in one game for just the second time this season, offering hope that they can start boosting a meagre goal tally.

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