Udinese and Lecce play their match in the 8th round of Serie A at the Bluenergy Arena, home of Udinese.
Facts
- Seven of the last nine matches between the two at Udinese saw 2-3 goals.
- The last six matches between the two saw under 2.5 goals.
- Udinese have scored 10 of their last 12 home goals in the second half of games.
- All five of Udinese’s home games this season saw 2-3 goals.
- Lecce have conceded eight of their last 11 goals in the second half of games.
Betting Tip: Udinese - Lecce
Udinese struggled against Cremonese and lacked clinical finishing. They are expected to face similar problems in their clash with Lecce, as the latter have defended very well in the last couple of games. We like the odds of a low-scoring game.
- Recommendation: Under 2.5
- Odds: 1.67 (at the time of writing)
Udinese
Udinese came away with a 1-1 draw against Cremonese on Matchday 7, in an encounter that came to life after the break. Kosta Runjaic’s side fell behind as early as the 4th minute and looked unsettled, at times appearing vulnerable to conceding again.
The second half, however, saw a marked improvement. Udinese became far more threatening and quickly found the equaliser through Niccolò Zaniolo’s first goal of the season in the 51st minute. The tempo rose significantly from there, with both sides creating chances, and the match could have swung either way.
The draw extended Udinese’s winless run to four matches, and following the clash with Lecce, the schedule becomes demanding: Juventus (away), Atalanta (home) and Roma (away) await, fixtures that will test their resilience.
In team news, key defender Kristensen misses a second straight game, while new striker Buksa remains doubtful.
Lecce
Lecce extended their unbeaten run to three matches, holding Sassuolo to a goalless draw thanks to a well-organised defensive display. The game offered little in terms of entertainment, and the 0-0 scoreline was fair. Lecce’s best spell came in the first half, with Tete Morente going closest to breaking the deadlock.
The tempo dropped further after the interval, as both sides committed numerous technical errors and seemed content to settle for a point rather than risk defeat.
Lecce’s current run of one win and two draws provides stability ahead of a testing schedule. Before the month’s end, Eusebio Di Francesco’s men face Udinese, then Napoli at home and Fiorentina away.
Injury-wise, backup centre-backs Perez and Jean remain sidelined, as does attacking midfielder Marchwinski. Winger Sottil, who missed the Sassuolo match, is doubtful.
