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Napoli are fourth in Serie A tawith three more matches left to play this season. However, qualification to the UEFA Champions League group stage is not a foregone conclusion for the Azzurri, with Juventus and Lazio just behind. Gennaro Gattuso’s side takes on Udinese midweek, hoping to consolidate their position in the top four.
Udinese are to Serie A what Everton are to the Premier League – a side which is always present. It has been over two decades since the Friuliani suffered from the heartbreak of relegation. With the help of constant innovation, the Udine outfit has been a mainstay in the Italian top division, albeit always on the periphery of something remarkable. This season, they are looking to break into the top ten. They are currently 11th with three matches left to play.
Napoli are to Serie A what Arsenal of Arsene Wenger’s middle years was to the Premier League. They challenged for the league title consistently but always fell short of winning it. They qualified for the UEFA Champions League constantly but merely to act as a participant rather than a contender. The Azzurri became the ‘almost’ club of Italy, always present at the top but unable to take that one final step.
The match between Napoli and Udinese midweek pits the two teams against each other. For both teams, the match holds significance. A win for Napoli would help them remain in the top four for another week. With just two more matchdays remaining this season, that is a position the Azzurri would very much like to be in. Meanwhile, Udinese could potentially take another step towards a top-ten finish. Should Hellas Verona lose their league match, the Friuliani will overtake them in tenth place thanks to a better head-to-head record.
The onus will be on Napoli for this match. The race for the Champions League spots in Serie A is as close as ever, with Gennaro Gattuso’s side competing against Atalanta, AC Milan, Juventus, and Lazio. The side from Naples failed to secure a spot in Europe’s top competition after a season of turmoil last time around. They will be hoping to avoid a repeat of the same this year.
Key Players
No matter what Lorenzo Insigne does for Napoli, he will forever fall short of Diego Maradona – who is revered in Naples like a god. That does not mean that the Italian will not be remembered by the Azzurri faithful, who see him almost as the second coming of the masterful Argentine. Insigne will go down in Napoli history books. Presently, he will ensure that he does enough to help his side secure a spot in next season’s UEFA Champions League.
Napoli owner Aurelio De Laurentiis has explored several big deals in the past, perhaps hoping to fast-track his club into joining the elite group. One signing which he pulled off was that of Victor Osimhen, with the Nigerian joining from Lille in a mega transfer. He has been injured for large parts of the campaign but has still scored ten goals in 21 matches. He also has three assists to his name.
Udinese have always been at the forefront of innovation and scouting, which has enabled them to unearth gems like Rodrigo De Paul. The Argentine is among the most coveted playmakers on the continent and will certainly secure a move elsewhere this summer – helping the side from Udine rake in a huge fee. The Argentine is his side’s top scorer and leading assist provider in Serie A this season, with nine contributions in each category.
For years, Premier League fans have grown accustomed to watching Roberto Pereyra in the bright yellow kits of Watford. However, when the Hornets went down last season, Pereyra jumped ship and joined Udinese – a club that shares the same ownership. He has proven to be a shrewd signing for the Friuliani, scoring four goals and providing eight assists. He is behind only De Paul in both categories for Udinese.
Prediction
Udinese have lost more than they have won this season. They even spent the early weeks of the campaign in the relegation zone. However, Luca Gotti managed to pull his side clear of danger, much to the relief of those keeping count of the number of seasons they have consecutively survived in the top flight – 26, for those wondering. They are not mathematically safe from the drop yet, but it would take an implosion unlike any other to push them down to Serie B this season.
With their position in the league relatively safe, Udinese will be looking ahead. Relegation is nine points behind them, but a potential top-half finish is just three ahead. Their match against Napoli will be a test of their character and their drive to finish as high as possible, given that they dropped points from winning positions in both of their previous matches.
For Napoli, nothing short of a win would do. At this point in the season, and with the race for the top four this close, they cannot afford to drop points in any of their last three matches. Thankfully, Gennaro Gattuso has all of his star players at his disposal, and they have form on their side too. Napoli are unbeaten in the league in 12 matches that have seen them move into the UCL spots from the peripheries.
