Soccer Italy Serie A Prediction

Udinese vs Lazio - Match Preview

⚽ 21 May 2023 - 18:45 GMT +0

Entering this round 16 points above the drop zone and 13 adrift of the top six, Udinese has nothing but pride and places to play for across the final three Serie A (SA) rounds. A confirmed mid-table placing is just a result after their stumbling form in the last eight rounds in which each result differed from the one before (W2, D2, L4), in a sequence that has damaged Zebrette’s hopes of their first top-half finish since 2012/13.

There is still time for Udinese to get back on track and accomplish that feat, with only three points separating eighth and 12th ahead of Round 36. A rock-solid yet draw-heavy eight-game unbeaten run of home games (W3, D5) may provide further belief amongst the Dacia Arena faithful that their side can overturn the odds to topple a desperate Lazio team.

This is a potentially pivotal game for Maurizio Sarri’s men, who could all but seal their position in the top four - and next season’s Champions League - with a combination of victory and favourable results elsewhere. Assuming AC Milan wins at home to relegated Sampdoria, the capital city club would then be able to confirm their top-four berth in their final home game of the campaign against Cremonese.

A place at Europe’s top table could have been confirmed even earlier had Lazio avoided a rotten run of form in the previous five rounds (W1, D1, L3) which included back-to-back away defeats against both Milan clubs. The long journey to Udine is unlikely to put Lazio off, with the Eagles soaring to an unbeaten run of away H2Hs lasting just over a decade (W6, D3).

📋 Players to watch: Roberto Pereyra (G5) has scored in two of Udinese’s last three home victories and he could equal his best-ever scoring league campaign with one more goal. Incredibly, Ciro Immobile has recorded double-digit hauls of SA goals in each of Lazio’s last seven campaigns and he doesn’t often hang about, scoring first with six of his last seven competitive strikes.

⚡ Hot streak: Lazio is yet to concede an away goal against sides beginning this round between sixth and 15th in the SA standings (W6, D2); with four 2-0 victories.