Previous encounters

Napoli visit Udinese on Saturday evening after Kosta Runjaic’s side secured a morale-boosting victory against Monza last Monday.

The Azzurri are undefeated in their last 16 Serie A games against Udinese, winning 13 and drawing three. In fact, Udinese have not beaten Napoli in the league since April 3, 2016, when a brace from Bruno Fernandes and a goal from Cyril Thereau secured a 3-1 win, with Gonzalo Higuian scoring the consolation goal for Napoli.

Of the teams currently in Serie A, Napoli only has a longer unbeaten streak against Como (18 games) than against Udinese.

However, the Friulians were able to get two draws in the last three league games.

Napoli have scored in 19 consecutive Serie A games against Udinese – only against Bologna have they had a longer streak (20 games between 2012 and 2023) against the same opponent.

Udinese clinical and dangerous in the air

After a lightning start to the season (10 points in the first four games), Udinese have only won three of their last eleven games.

However, Udinese can boast the fourth-best expected goals result this season (4.2), having scored 18 goals and had an xG of 13.8. Only Atalanta (+9.4), Inter (+7.2) and Fiorentina (+7.0) performed better.

Those 18 goals were scored by 11 different players – only Inter and Lazio (with 13 each) have had more different names on the scoresheet this season.

Udinese certainly pose a formidable threat in the air. Aside from scoring seven headed goals this season (second only to Atalanta with eight), Runjaic’s men are one of only three teams who have yet to concede goals from headers ( the others are Napoli and Atalanta).

Coincidentally, the Azzurri’s last two goals against Udinese were both headers: Giovanni Simeone on September 27, 2023 and Victor Osimhen on May 6, 2024.

A possible weakness could be Udinese’s pressing game, as this season they have only attempted ten shots after winning the ball in attack (only Empoli has fewer) without scoring a goal.

However, they try to pass the ball forward quickly and have recorded 26 direct attacks so far – the fourth most after Milan, Parma and Juventus.

Lucca scores, Kamara and Zemura make wings

Lorenzo Lucca is Udinese’s top scorer so far this season with five goals – four of them headed (the highest goal in Serie A, tied with Mateo Retegui). Last year he scored his fifth in Week 16, his sixth two games later and finished the season with eight league goals.

Jürgen Ekkelenkamp’s assist for Jaka Bijol against Monza was his first in 30 league games without a goal.

Udinese’s full-backs, Hassane Kamara and Jordan Zemura, provide the team with a constant opportunity to explore on the wings. Kamara delivered 14 successful crosses from the game – only Federico Dimarco (17), Dodo (16) and Aaron Martin (15) have delivered more this season. Meanwhile, Zemura has already been involved in three goals (one more than in the whole of last season) and has completed 19 dribbles – more than any other defender in the top flight except Dodo (26).

Statistics from Opta