Udinese vs Fiorentina: A Serie A Battle for Momentum
Fiorentina travels to face Udinese on Monday, aiming to build on their European progress while their hosts seek to end a worrying three-game losing streak in Serie A. This match promises to be a captivating encounter as both teams navigate crucial stages of the season.
Fiorentina’s European Hangover and League Revival
Fiorentina narrowly secured their place in the Conference League last-16 after a dramatic extra-time victory over Jagiellonia Bialystok. A 3-0 first-leg lead was almost squandered, highlighting defensive vulnerabilities, but Nicolo Fagioli’s 107th-minute strike proved decisive. Paolo Vanoli has overseen a steady improvement in Fiorentina’s fortunes since his arrival in November, lifting them out of the relegation zone.
Notably, 15 of their 24 points this season have been earned in 2024, including a strong record on the road with six points from their last nine available away games. Their recent 2-1 victory in Como suggests a growing confidence, and they’ll be looking to secure consecutive Serie A away wins for the first time since November 2024.
The reverse fixture between these sides saw Fiorentina deliver a dominant 5-1 victory in December, a match where Udinese were reduced to 10 men early on. History favors the Viola, having won three of their last four visits to Udinese.
Udinese’s Recent Struggles
Udinese’s momentum has stalled with three consecutive league defeats following a brief period of success. Losses to Lecce, Sassuolo, and Bologna have exposed vulnerabilities, despite earlier victories over Hellas Verona and Roma briefly lifting them into the top 10.
At home, Udinese have only managed four wins from 13 attempts, averaging just one goal per game. However, they remain on course to achieve their objective of mid-table safety under Kosta Runjaic.
Team News and Potential Lineups
Fiorentina will be without several key players. Reserve goalkeeper Luca Lezzerini (thigh), Robin Gosens (face), and Manor Solomon (muscular) all picked up injuries during the Conference League tie. Dodo is suspended, but Albert Gudmundsson is available to start alongside Moise Kean, who has been in excellent form, scoring in his last three Serie A matches.
Fiorentina possible starting lineup: De Gea; Fortini, Comuzzo, Pongracic, Ranieri; Brescianini, Fagioli, Mandragora; Harrison, Kean, Gudmundsson
Udinese will be missing Oumar Solet and Alessandro Zanoli through injury, while Hassane Kamara remains doubtful with plantar fasciitis. With Keinan Davis recently returning from injury, Nicolo Zaniolo will likely lead the attack, having scored five league goals this season.
Udinese possible starting lineup: Okoye; Kristensen, Kabasele, Bertola; Ehizibue, Ekkelenkamp, Karlstrom, Atta, Zemura; Zaniolo, Buksa
Prediction: Goals Guaranteed
With Fiorentina under pressure to secure their Serie A status and Udinese aiming to halt their losing streak, this match is expected to be an open and entertaining affair. The recent history between these teams suggests goals are likely, with the last four league meetings averaging 4.5 goals per game. Both teams have shown a tendency to concede, making a high-scoring encounter a strong possibility.
For more in-depth data analysis, including predicted results and scorelines, visit WhoScored.com.
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