After their European disappointment and 2-0 defeat at Benfica, Napoli dives back into the league and into a head-to-head with AC Milan. And on this matchday fifteen, the clash is a peculiar one: the Rossoneri kick off at 12:30, meaning the final whistle for their San Siro clash against Sassuolo will blow just minutes before kick-off for the Partenopei, who will play later in the season and will therefore be tasked with responding to the result of Allegri’s side. They will do so at the home of a team, Udinese, that is eager to forget the disappointment of their last home match against Genoa, who managed to win 2-1 on Friulian soil.
HOW THE TWO TEAMS ARRIVE TO THE MATCH
Runjaic’s team, in short, finds itself having to forget a home defeat, which is actually their second if we consider the 3-0 defeat against Bologna after the break. In short, the Bianconeri are currently performing almost better away from home, a paradox considering the team’s quality. And now comes one of the two league leaders, Napoli, still hurt by their Champions League defeat in Lisbon against Benfica, a heavy 2-0 defeat that threatens to jeopardize the Campanian side’s future in the competition. And some are already crying conspiracy, speculating on a “plan” by Conte himself to exit European competition to focus on the league and their fifth Scudetto.
THE POINT ON UDINESE
Despite Nicolò Zaniolo’s poor form, Udinese needs to find their feet: they’ve suffered three defeats in their last four, including two at home, along with a 2-0 defeat in Rome. A team that started well has now slowed slightly, but ultimately still has 18 points, one less than Lazio and five less than Juventus. Despite all this, an eight-point lead over third-to-last place gives Runjaic a relatively comfortable night’s sleep, but he wants to rebound, regardless of results, points, and gaps: a coach like him doesn’t tolerate too many slip-ups.
THE POINT ON NAPLES
Conte, however, is focused on the league after the Champions League defeat that effectively denied Napoli a spot in the top eight, already a mirage. But now the question is how the competition will continue: currently, they’d be in the playoffs, but the final 180 minutes would decide everything. The Salento coach’s detractors, and the more malicious ones in general, are speculating that Conte wants to exit the Champions League so as to avoid midweek fixtures from February onwards, all to launch a push for a fifth Scudetto and what would be a second consecutive one, a feat no one has ever achieved, not even Maradona’s Napoli. However, the pressure will have to be managed: taking the field in Udine with a three-point deficit to AC Milan, who are playing Sassuolo, could make the difference, but not in a positive way.
POSSIBLE FORMATIONS
Zaniolo has been confirmed at Udinese, while Conte has no significant recovery, as he has the usual unavailable players in literally every area of the pitch.
Udinese (3-5-2): Okoye; Bertola, Kabasele, Solet; Zanoli, Piotrowski, Karlstrom, Ekkelenkamp, Rui Modesto; Zaniolo, Davis.
Napoli (3-4-2-1): Milinkovic-Savic; Beukema, Rrahmani, Buongiorno; Di Lorenzo, Elmas, McTominay, Olivera; Neres, Lang, Hojlund.
PREDICTION AND PLAYING ADVICE
For the Bluenergy Stadium challenge, the tipsters of netwin They trust Napoli, fresh from excellent results except for their recent defeat in the Champions League. Therefore, they’re looking at a 2, with odds of 1.89. An alternative market is a No Goal, with odds of 1.70, assuming Milinkovic-Savic remains undefeated (and, perhaps, a key player with a saved penalty).
PressGames
