Udinese vs Atalanta Prediction and Preview – 06/01/16
Serie A preview – Udinese vs Atalanta prediction
Udinese defender Molla Wague will serve a one-match suspension for collecting two yellow cards in the 1-0 victory at Torino before the Christmas break with Ivan Piris expected to deputise. Forwards Cyril Thereau, Rogero Aguirre and Duvan Zapata joined the squad in training this week and are hoping to be fit for Wednesday. Stipe Perica and Antonio Di Natale will hoping they did enough in Torino to retain a place up front.
In-demand goalkeeper Marco Sportiello signed a contract extension to stay at Atalanta until 2019 and the 23-year-old is expected to return to action after his mysterious absence from the 3-1 defeat at Napoli. Midfielder Jasmin Kurtic and defender Nicolo Cherubin are available after serving bans with Cherubin able to return to the back four for the suspended Gabriel Paletta. Mauricio Pinilla continues to recover from knee surgery and Chilean midfielder Carlos Carmona also remains sidelined.
Possible Line-ups
Udinese: 3-5-2 formation: Karnezis; Piris, Danilo, Felipe; Widmer, Badu, Lodi, Fernandes, Edenilson; Natale, Thereau
Atalanta: 4-3-3 formation: Sportiello; Bellini, Stendardo, Cherubin, Brivio; Kurtic, Roon, Grassi; Moralez, Denis, Gomez
Statistics
- Udinese have won 4 drawn 2 and lost 4 of their last 10 matches
- Atalanta have won 3 drawn 1 and lost 6 of their last 10 matches
- Over the course of their previous 10 matches, Udinese have scored an average of 1.2 goals and conceded an average of 1.6 goals per game
- Over the course of their previous 10 matches, Atalanta have scored an average of 0.9 goals and conceded an average of 1.4 goals per game
- There have been over 2.5 goals scored in 6 of Udinese’s previous 10 matches
- There have been over 2.5 goals scored in 5 of Atalanta’s previous 10 matches
Prediction
Udinese lost the first three home games in Serie A but have recovered with two wins, two draws and one defeat in the next five at home. The 1-0 win at Torino ended a run of three successive defeats and the home side has the psychological advantage of having eliminated the visitors from the Coppa Italia last month.
Atalanta received a massive boost over Christmas when tying down their highly-rated goalkeeper for another four years. Edoardo Reja’s men need the inspiration having slipped down the table with five defeats in the last eight league games. Their away form has been hit and miss. Victories at Empoli and Roma look impressive but have lost five of nine on the road and average only two shots on target per away game so far.
Udinese’s defeat against Inter was their first at home since September and Stefano Colantuano’s side can bounce back with a victory against Atalanta.
Tips
Udinese to win at 7/5 with William Hill
Under 2.5 goals at 7/10 with BetVictor
Udinese to win 1-0 at 7/1 with 888sport
What are your predictions?
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