Udinese welcome the visitors Chievo in the Italian Serie A – Round 24. The match will be held on Sunday, February, 17th, at the Dacia Arena (Udine).
When managing Crotone, Nicola worked a miracle and saved the team. Udinese’s present squad enable the Croatian specialist to attain his objective in an easier way. However, the ‘Zebrette’’s former defensive tactics did not provide for demonstrating the advantage that Nicola has now. At some point, Udinese were destined to start playing more aggressively, and the manager arranged that. It did not take long to see the results. The first point in the calendar year was racked up at home, in the clash with Fiorentina wherein the guests played back just by accident (1:1). The hosts featured a better xG (1.42 versus 0.62).
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In their trip to Torino, they lost with a scoreline of 1:0, but the homeside on that day benefited from their turf and objectively boasted a better squad. Udinese played for no-loss or even a win though (2.40 versus 1.70, according to xG). Okaka’s goal was cancelled, De Paul did not convert the penalty, and Lasagna, who came for substitution, hit the crossbar twice – the Udine outfit had the rotten luck.
De Paul’s play against Chievo is questionable, De Maio will not help the team because of the red card, and Sandro and Behrami are injured. Okaka might be a proper replacement for the best striker, but Nicola counts on Lasagna. The ‘Zebrette’’s defense may become more vulnerable, but they host one of the worst league defenses. Chievo were victorious over Udinese in their last two outings (featuring a 1:2 win in each), but these days they are labeled the second worst attack and the worst defense. Will the match turn boring? We doubt it.
The transfer market did not leave Chievo any chances to survive, so the manager Domenico Di Carlo needs to count on his expertise and former experience in working with the restricted squad. After all, the injured Pellissier will not help the attack, the regista Radovanovic and the playmaker Birsa left to Genoa and Cagliari respectively. Di Carlo has indeed managed not to fail under the frugal squad before, and this time, after the above-mentioned performers parted with the club, he drawed against Internazionale (1:1) and was about to win Empoli out (2:2). The home 3:4 loss to Fiorentina was good in its way, but the defense by Depaoli, Bani, Rossettini, and Jaroszynski is obviously weak. The team’s success is attributed to the attack by Hetemaj and the Giaccherini-Dordevic-Stepinski trio. Chievo did not succeed to net Roma in the last home encounter, but they did not lose by shots on target (11/6 versus 11/9) and the xG was little unfair (0.70 versus 1.27).
Chievo are nine points off the safe place – so, they still have chances to survive, but there are not so many rounds left (fifteen). Every drop of points decreases the chances. Matches against the sides that look to secure their place in the elite division seem the best option for gaining crucial points. ‘The Flying Donkeys’ will have to rush forward, whereas their defense anticipates the Serie B already. We predict a goal-exchange tomorrow.
Prediction for the match: Both teams to score.
