Udinese vs Hellas Verona Preview: Team News & Prediction
by Alex Lawes ·
Updated
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Udinese appeared to have the full attention from their owners last season, but that may no longer be the case as they kick off against Hellas Verona in Friuli this weekend.
Kick-off date/time:
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Udinese preview: Attacking departures
Udinese started last season, not unusually, in excellent form, following the appointment of former Legia Warsaw boss Kosta Runjaic; with a belief that the Pozzo family had turned their full and more paramount attention back to them, rather than Watford.
However, over the summer, they have lost some key players, most notably Florian Thauvin and Lorenzo Lucca, and it could well be shaping up to be a season of struggle for the Friulians, with even more incentive and importance to get off to a good start.
Hellas Verona preview: Zanetti will be under pressure
Hellas Verona come into this campaign on the back of a season in which they will widely be deemed to have got away with one last year. Verona performed as a bottom three side for much of the campaign, but were able to steer clear of the danger zone.
This time around could be tougher for Verona, who still have former Empoli boss Paolo Zanetti in charge. They only just edged past Serie B side Audace Cerignola on penalties in the first round of the Coppa Italia last week.
Udinese team news: Okoye suspended
With some key departures in attack, Alexis Sanchez also remains sidelined for Udinese, whilst Nigeria international goalkeeper Maduka Okoye is missing through suspension.
Predicted XI (3-5-2): Sava; Palma, Kristensen, Solet; Ehizibue, Lovric, Karlstrom, Atta, Zemura; Davis, Iker Bravo
Unavailable: Okoye (Suspended), Sanchez (Injured)
Questionable: Ekkelenkamp (Injured), Payero (Injured)
Hellas Verona team news: Couple of absentees
Ahead of their trip to the north east of Italy, Verona are dealing with a couple of injury absentees as new signing Nahuel Valentini is sidelined alongside Slovakia international attacking midfielder Tomas Suslov.
Predicted XI (3-1-4-2): Montipo; Oyegoke, Unai Nunez, Kurti; Bernede; Cham, Frese, Niasse, Serdar; Giovane, Daniel Mosquera
Unavailable: Valentini (Injured), Suslov (Injured)
Questionable:
Udinese vs Hellas Verona prediction
Udinese and Hellas Verona will clash at the Bluenergy Stadium, the host stadium of this season's UEFA Super Cup, with a few concerns that they could both be doing battle in an early season six-pointer. Both teams lack quality in attack, and neither side are likely to be overly proactive or entertaining to watch at their best anyway, and a low-scoring encounter on the opening day would appear likely.
Udinese vs Hellas Verona tip: Under 2.5 goals
