Udinese vs Napoli Predictions, Betting Tips and Match Previews

Napoli were runners up last season, and they were seen as the best hope of denying Juventus a sixth straight title. However, they’ve found themselves in sixth place in Serie A, now four points off the Champions League places. Udinese’s recent surge is starting to die down, but can they add to the Partenopei’s problems?

Udinese can still claim to be unbeaten in four matches, and they’ll fancy their chances of extending that when they host Napoli. The visitors have really struggled in the absence of their main forward Arkaduisz Milik. The Polish international was brought in to replace Gonzalo Higuain, and he made a fantastic start in Naples. He had fired them into contention for the Scudetto, and helped them to the top of their Champions League group.

Since Milik’s injury on international duty with Poland they’ve slumped out of the top three. They’re also now in a fight to qualify in the Champions League. They have not been helped by their struggling defence, although that can’t be blamed on an injury to their first choice forward. There are bigger problems at play which has seen them struggle.

Plus, Napoli have players who can chip in with goals in Milik’s absence. In their last five Serie A away games, Jose Callejon has scored four times. Those strikes represent 67% of the goals the Partenopei have scored in those matches. We’re backing him to find the net again here, at 2/1 with bet365.

This is probably the first rough spell that Napoli boss Maurizio Sarri has suffered at the club. He’s a popular figure there, but that won’t last without a change in fortunes. Just two wins from six isn’t ideal, while they’ve kept just one clean sheet since late September. Even that was against Empoli, a side who are incredibly goal shy. They’ve taken just one point from two European games with Besiktas, conceding four times across those two encounters.

Napoli have now conceded 1.08 goals per game after keeping just one clean sheet in six in the league. That makes them a team Udinese can hurt here. The hosts have scored an average of 1.67 goals per outing at the Dacia Arena this term. They’ve failed to score just once in front of their home support, and they’ll be backing that record to continue.

However, the hosts need to worry about their defensive problems. They’ve conceded in nine straight games, while they’ve failed to keep a clean sheet in 83% of their matches at home. That includes their last five outings here. So far this term, 67% of the games at the Dacia Arena have seen both teams score. We’re backing the same again here, as neither side can seem to defend. Both teams to score here is priced at 7/10 with bet365.