Napoli will be keen to come away with all three points when they face Udinese on Sunday evening.
Napoli’s title defence continues to gather momentum domestically, but Sunday afternoon’s trip to Udinese arrives at a moment of contrast for the reigning champions. While the Partenopei are chasing a fourth straight Serie A victory, lingering doubts from midweek European disappointment add a layer of tension to what might otherwise appear a favourable fixture.
Antonio Conte’s side have responded impressively to adversity in recent weeks. A tactical reshuffle forced by injuries and suspensions has sparked renewed intensity, culminating in a statement victory over Juventus last weekend.
That success marked Napoli’s fifth consecutive win in all competitions and completed an unbeaten calendar year at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona. Rasmus Hojlund was the headline act, scoring his first Serie A brace in a heavyweight clash that saw Napoli overcome their former coach Luciano Spalletti.
However, continental form tells a different story. Napoli’s midweek Champions League trip to Lisbon ended in a subdued 2-0 defeat to Benfica, extending a worrying trend on the road in Europe. The loss marked their fifth consecutive away defeat in the competition, a run that has seen them concede 17 goals and slide dangerously close to elimination with two league-phase matches still to play. That result also highlighted a recurring issue under Conte: vulnerability away from home.
Indeed, Napoli’s Serie A record on the road has been less convincing than their overall league position suggests. Five of their seven league defeats under Conte have come away from Naples, including all three losses this season. That makes Sunday’s visit to Udine a subtle test of progress, not in terms of quality, but mentality and control in unfamiliar territory.
History, though, offers Napoli plenty of reassurance. The Campanian club are unbeaten in their last 18 league meetings with Udinese, winning 14 of those encounters. Udinese have not beaten Napoli at home since the 2015/16 season, when a Bruno Fernandes brace sealed a 3-1 victory. Since then, the fixture has been largely one-sided, with Udinese conceding close to two goals per game across the last 10 league clashes.
Current form also leans heavily in Napoli’s favour. Udinese find themselves drifting after a worrying downturn in results, having lost four of their last six league matches. Each of those defeats has seen them concede at least twice, exposing structural fragilities that have dragged Kosta Runjaic’s side into mid-table obscurity. A recent Coppa Italia exit to Juventus further dented morale, increasing pressure on the squad.
Monday’s league draw against Genoa briefly hinted at recovery. Jakub Piotrowski’s first Serie A goal brought Udinese level and set up a promising finish, but familiar problems resurfaced late on. Udinese conceded yet another second-half goal, their 13th of the season, joint-worst in the league, with nine of those arriving at home. That inability to manage games after the break remains a glaring weakness, one Napoli will be eager to exploit.
Runjaic may look to adjust his tactical approach in response, particularly in terms of defensive shape and game management. Yet against a Napoli side growing in confidence domestically and ruthless when presented with structural flaws, even minor lapses could prove costly. The Hard Tackle takes a look at how the clubs could line up on the night and what tactics they might employ.
Team News & Tactics
Udinese Calcio
Udinese approach Sunday’s meeting with Napoli managing a number of availability concerns, particularly in midfield and defensive areas. Kosta Runjaic remains without several regular options, forcing continued improvisation in key zones. There are no suspension issues to contend with, but fitness problems have limited rotation and consistency in recent weeks.
Despite those setbacks, Udinese will take encouragement from the growing influence of Jakub Piotrowski, who scored his first Serie A goal in the recent draw with Genoa and has begun to assert himself in central areas.
The Friulani are expected to rely on collective structure rather than individual brilliance, especially against Napoli’s superior attacking depth. Udinese’s recent struggles have often stemmed from late-game concentration lapses, particularly after the break, and Runjaic’s focus this weekend is likely to be on maintaining compactness and defensive discipline for the full 90 minutes. Managing transitions and limiting space between the lines will be critical if they are to frustrate the champions.
From a tactical standpoint, Udinese are expected to line up in a 3-5-2 formation that prioritises numerical security at the back while offering width through the wing-backs. Maduka Okoye should start in goal, tasked with organising the defensive unit and dealing with sustained pressure.
The back three is likely to consist of Nicolo Bertola on the right, Christian Kabasele operating centrally as the physical anchor, and Oumar Solet on the left, offering balance and recovery pace.
In midfield, Alessandro Zanoli is expected to operate as the right wing-back, providing energy and forward thrust, while Rui Modesto fills the same role on the left, tasked with stretching play and tracking Napoli’s wide threats.
The central trio should see Jesper Karlstrom holding the position as the defensive midfielder, with Jurgen Ekkelenkamp and Jakub Piotrowski positioned slightly higher to support both phases of play. Up front, Udinese are likely to deploy Nicolo Zaniolo alongside Keinan Davis, combining physical presence with direct running in an effort to trouble Napoli’s backline on the counter.
Probable Lineup (3-5-2): Okoye; Bertola, Kabasele, Solet; Zanoli, Ekkelenkamp, Karlstrom, Piotrowski, Modesto; Zaniolo, Davis
SSC Napoli
The reigning Italian champions travel to Udine dealing with a cluster of injury concerns that have significantly shaped Antonio Conte’s recent selections. The most notable absentee remains Lorenzo Lucca, last season’s leading scorer, who departed Udinese for Napoli in the summer but is unavailable for this fixture.
Napoli have no suspension issues to manage, but the injury list continues to force tactical flexibility. Meanwihle, the Napoli coach may also consider fresh legs following a physically draining European trip, particularly after signs of fatigue emerged in Lisbon.
From a tactical perspective, Napoli are expected to set up in a 3-4-2-1 formation that emphasises defensive solidity while allowing fluid movement behind the striker. Vanja Milinkovic-Savic is set to start in goal, providing physical presence and shot-stopping reliability.
The back three should feature Sam Beukema on the right, Amir Rrahmani operating centrally as the defensive organiser, and Alessandro Buongiorno on the left, offering composure and progression from the back. In the wing-back roles, Giovanni Di Lorenzo is expected to start on the right, combining leadership with tireless running, while Leonardo Spinazzola should occupy the left flank, tasked with providing width and attacking support.
The central midfield pairing is likely to include Scott McTominay, offering physicality and defensive cover, alongside Eljif Elmas, who is expected to help link midfield and attack. Ahead of them, Matteo Politano and David Neres should operate as the two attacking midfielders, drifting inside to create overloads and supply the striker.
Rasmus Hojlund is set to lead the line for Napoli against Udinese Calcio as the lone centre-forward, responsible for occupying defenders and converting chances inside the box.
Probable Lineup (3-4-2-1): Milinkovic-Savic; Beukema, Rrahmani, Buongiorno; Di Lorenzo, McTominay, Elmas, Spinazzola; Politano, Neres; Hojlund
Key Stats
- Napoli are unbeaten in their last 18 Serie A meetings with Udinese, winning 14 of those encounters.
- Udinese have not beaten Napoli at home in the league since the 2015/16 season, when they secured a 3-1 victory at the Dacia Arena.
- Five of Napoli’s seven Serie A defeats under Antonio Conte have come away from home, including all three of their league losses this season.
- Udinese have conceded 13 second-half goals in Serie A this campaign, a joint league-high, with nine of those goals coming in home matches.
- Napoli have scored at least twice in seven of their last 10 Serie A matches against Udinese,.
Player to Watch
Scott McTominay
The Serie A MVP could play a pivotal role in Napoli’s approach at the Dacia Arena, particularly given the visitors’ recent issues with balance and control away from home. Deployed in central midfield under Antonio Conte, the Scotland international provides physicality, discipline, and late-running threat, qualities that are crucial against an Udinese side vulnerable in second-half phases.
McTominay’s ability to break up play and win duels allows Napoli to maintain territorial dominance, while his forward surges from deep positions add an extra dimension in the final third. With Udinese often conceding space between the lines after the break, McTominay’s timing and presence could be decisive in turning sustained pressure into clear chances.
If Napoli are to extend their dominance in this fixture and secure another league victory on the road, McTominay’s control of midfield transitions and influence in both boxes may prove to be the difference.
Prediction
Udinese Calcio 1-2 SSC Napoli
Udinese’s tendency to concede late and Napoli’s superior quality in midfield and attack point toward a narrow away victory. While Antonio Conte’s side may again show moments of vulnerability on the road, their control in key phases and ability to capitalise on structural weaknesses should be enough to extend their strong record against the Friulani.
