Udinese vs Lecce Preview: Team News & Prediction
by Alex Lawes ·
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Perennially mid-table Udinese continue their 2026-27 Serie A campaign with the visit of perennial strugglers Lecce at the Bluenergy Stadium in Friuli.
Kick-off date/time:
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Udinese preview: Poor start
Under the management of former Legia Warsaw boss Kosta Runjaic, Udinese had looked as though they may be able to kick on but they have started the season with four defeats and a draw in their opening six matches in Serie A.
The Friulians returned from the international break with a 2-1 defeat to Torino at Olimpico de Torino last weekend with Jurgen Ekkelenkamp’s equaliser sandwiched by goals from Daniel Braganca and Senad Kulenovic for Torino.
Lecce preview: Evolving the style
Former Roma boss Eusebio Di Francesco managed to keep Lecce up with a fairly conservative style of football after the manager had succumbed to back-to-back relegations while in charge of Venezia and then Frosinone.
Lecce have evoled their style a bit more this time around with the visitors coming into this one on the back of a 2-1 loss to Bologna last weekend meaning that their six matches have averaged three goals per game throughout the campaign.
Udinese team news: New issues
The hosts have some fresh injuries for this one as both James Abankwah and Alessandro Zanoli are now doubts with Vakoun Bayo is a confirmed absentee.
Predicted XI (3-4-2-1): Okoye; Solet, Alaba, Ebosse; Vojvoda, Oier Zarraga, Karlstrom, Kamara; Unai Gomez, Ekkelenkamp; Chakvetadze
Unavailable: Zaniolo (Injured), Gueye (Injured), Bayo (Injured)
Questionable: Abankwah (Injured), Piotrowski (Fitness), Zanoli (Injured)
Lecce team news: Couple of fresh injuries
Key striker Nikola Stulic has succumbed to an injury and is now a doubt for this one with midfielder Ivan Ilic now sidelined as a result of a thigh issue for the visitors.
Predicted XI (4-3-3): Falcone; Veiga, Siebert, Tiago Gabriel, Gallo; Coulibaly, Gandelman, Maleh; Pierotti, Paco Esteban, Fatah
Unavailable: Ilic (Injured)
Questionable: Berisha (Fitness), Stulic (Injured)
Udinese vs Lecce prediction
The Pozzo family are beginning to receive some criticism from Udinese supporters as the club continues to stagnate and now decline, potentially drifting into a relegation battle in Italy’s top-flight. Lecce head to Friuli looking to be proactive and punish the underperforming hosts and, as a result, both teams scoring may well be a decent bet for this one.
Udinese vs Lecce tip: Both teams to score
