After losing the top spot due to a home defeat against Lazio, Napoli begins their new role as the chaser and will look to get back on track by visiting Udinese, who have been revitalized by their recent win against Monza. Currently sitting in a solid 9th place, Udinese has been performing well, despite some ups and downs. Several players are unavailable for the Friulian side, while Napoli has fewer absences, although the significant loss of Khvicha Kvaratskhelia will be felt. Antonio Conte will expect a strong and swift reaction from his available players to maintain their position at the top of Serie A.

Udinese's Current Form and Key Stats

The victory at U Power Stadium in Monza changed the perception of Udinese's season, as they had only earned 1 point from their last 4 matches before that.

Bijol's goal 20 minutes from time secured Udinese a significant 9th place in the standings and reignited their hopes for the remainder of the year.

So far, Udinese's campaign has been balanced but, curiously, with very few draws: 6 wins, 7 losses, and only 2 draws. Despite scoring slightly fewer goals than they have conceded (18 goals for, 22 against), their overall performance has been considered positive.

Napoli's Current Form and Key Stats

A recent record of 2 wins, 2 losses, and 1 draw in their last 5 games is not the form of a team that is marching towards the title, but Napoli will look to recover. When it comes to away games, they remain unbeaten in the last 6 outings and have only lost once this season, in their opening match against Verona.

Overall, Napoli's Serie A campaign has been strong: 10 wins, 2 draws, and 3 losses, with more than double the goals scored compared to goals conceded (21 goals for, 10 against).

Match Prediction and Tactical Overview

The last two encounters in Friuli between Udinese and Napoli ended in a 1-1 draw, which reflects some uncertainty regarding the number of goals this match could produce. However, Udinese's last 4 home games have seen fewer than 3 goals in total. Against a strong opponent like Napoli, Udinese is likely to adopt a more conservative approach, while Napoli could take a more cautious approach after their setback against Lazio. BetMines' algorithm slightly favors the Under 2.5 goals over the Over 2.5:

• BetMines' prediction for the Udinese vs Napoli match suggests Under 2.5 goals with a 53% probability.
• BetMines' prediction for the Udinese vs Napoli match suggests Over 2.5 goals with a 47% probability.

Probable Lineups: Udinese vs Napoli

Udinese (4-4-2): Sava; Ehizibue, Giannetti, Bijol, Zemura; Karlstrom, Lovric, Atta, Ekkelenkamp; Thauvin, Lucca. Coach: Runjaic.

Napoli (4-3-3): Meret; Di Lorenzo, Rrahmani, Buongiorno, Olivera; McTominay, Lobotka, Anguissa; Politano, Lukaku, Neres. Coach: Conte