Come Saturday, Udinese host Lazio in a game that they, quite reasonably, look to win after picking up a point at Bologna in their first fixture of the 2024/25 Serie A season.
We preview the Udinese vs Lazio match, as well as provide a prediction as to how the scoreline may ultimately pan out.
Quick Stats
- On a cagey opening weekend, Lazio were one of just four teams to win a game — and the only one among that quartet of winners not to have kept a clean sheet (3-1 vs Venezia), too.
- Including pre-season games, Lazio have avoided defeat since the derby defeat to capital rivals Roma in April.
- Udinese themselves have been pretty formidable, undefeated in their last seven domestic games in all competitions.
- Wins have been scarce for Udinese, though, with the team collecting just two from their last 11 league matches.
Match Preview
Udinese put up a brave fight on the home stretch last season to escape relegation, losing none of their five concluding fixtures.
And their quest to extend that run of invincibility survived the threat of a tough opening away day at Champions League Bologna, thanks to Lautaro Giannetti's 68th-minute equaliser.
That resolve will be subjected to a very strict test when Lazio come around next weekend.
The Eagles have had a lot of fun at the Stadio Friuli in recent seasons, winning there on their last two visits, and would feel a second victory of the season is a realistic target, as they seek to grab and secure a place among Serie A's early pace-setters this term.
Up to four Nigerians could be involved in this clash, with the majority of those on Udinese's roster. Goalkeeper Maduka Okoye — who picked up a yellow card for time-wasting against Bologna — should start, with Kingsley Ehizibue likely to feature further forward.
Isaac Success, the 28-year-old striker, missed the trip to Emilia-Romagna, and with speculation rife that he is on his way out of the club, it remains to be seen if he would have a place in Kosta Runjaic's squad for any games before the end of the summer.
For Lazio, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru would hope his impressive debut against Venezia lands him another start.
Udinese vs Lazio H2H
Last 10 games
- March 2024: Lazio 1-2 Udinese
- January 2024: Udinese 1-2 Lazio
- May 2023: Udinese 0-1 Lazio
- October 2022: Lazio 0-0 Udinese
- February 2022: Udinese 1-1 Lazio
- January 2022: Lazio 1-0 Udinese
- December 2021: Lazio 4-4 Udinese
- March 2021: Udinese 0-1 Lazio
- November 2020: Lazio 1-3 Udinese
- July 2020: Udinese 0-0 Lazio
Udinese vs Lazio Prediction
Quite a few factors point to a Lazio victory, not least the fact that they have not lost at Udinese since April 2013, winning nine times, including on their last two visits.
That, and their aforementioned unbeaten run, suggests Udinese would have to wait a bit longer for their first three points of the season.
Predicted Lineups
Udinese: Maduka Okoye; Nehuén Perez, Jaka Bijol, Lautaro Giannetti; Kingsley Ehizibue, Sandi Lovric, Martin Payero, Hassane Kamara; Florian Thauvin, Brenner; Lorenzo Lucca
Lazio: Ivan Provedel; Manuel Lazzari, Nicolò Casale, Alessio Romagnoli, Adam Marusic; Mattéo Guendouzi, Nicolò Rovella, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru; Tijani Noslin, Valentin Castellanos, Mattia Zaccagni
