Napoli vs Udinese Predictions

• Both teams have scored in eight of the last nine head-to-head meetings between the clubs
• Both teams have scored in three of Napoli’s last four matches
• Piotr Zielinski scored against Lazio three weeks ago and has been playing well

Partenopei cannot afford to drop more points

Napoli need to kickstart their Scudetto defence with a win against struggling Udinese when they host the Zebrette at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on Wednesday night.

Sunday’s 0-0 draw at Bologna saw the Partonopei drop points for a third game in a row and there were rows on the touchline too after Victor Osimhen was substituted. The Nigerian had earlier hit the post and missed a penalty, so his frustration was clear. But coach Rudy Garcia downplayed the argument and said they had buried the hatchet in the dressing room.

The champions have not been anywhere near their fluent best from last season, however, and will not be everyone’s choice at short odds to dispatch Udinese.

Lucca looks like a handful

Andrea Sottil’s side failed to score for a third consecutive game when they lost 2-0 at home to Fiorentina on Sunday, but they were the better side and created plenty of chances to score. Lorenzo Lucca missed the best of them, but the former Ajax man looks a handful and could get some joy against a Napoli defence that were not always able to contain Bologna’s Joshua Zirkzee.

Udinese’s goal drought could come to an end in Naples, where they have scored in each of their last six visits, with both teams to score looking like an enticing play given the odds are double that of a home win.

Piotr Zielinski, who scored against Lazio earlier this month and has been playing very well, created some good chances for teammates to score against Bologna and is a value pick in anytime goalscorer betting at odds of around 100/30.