Udinese vs Lazio
Serie A
Sunday
7th January 2024
Dacia Arena
The most comprehensive preview, detailed analysis and reliable predictions of the Serie A fixture between Udinese and Lazio.
Udinese vs Lazio: Preview
Udinese form analysis
Udinese’s league form has fluctuated between morale boosting wins and chastening defeats lately. After twice blowing a lead in a chaotic 3-3 home draw with Verona on December 3rd, Udinese were emphatically beaten 4-0 at home by title challengers Inter Milan on December 10th. However, they stabilized by playing out an entertaining 2-2 home draw with fellow European hopefuls Sassuolo a week later, twice going ahead through L. Lucca and R. Pereyra before late D. Berardi penalties salvaged Sassuolo a point. Udinese then edged past Torino 1-0 away from home on December 23rd thanks to new signing Zarraga’s winner.
They ended 2023 with their biggest win of the season, comprehensively beating struggling Bologna 3-0 at home on December 30th with goals from R. Pereyra, red-hot striker L. Lucca and M. Payero. Overall, despite inconsistencies against top sides, Udinese have shown their quality in dispatching teams in the bottom half. Addressing minor defensive errors and building on their attacking talents of Lucca, Deulofeu and Pereyra seem keys for a potential late push towards European qualification during the Serie A run-in.
Lazio form analysis
After an inconsistent first half of the campaign, Lazio’s form has recently improved. Despite not hitting top gear, Lazio ground out three straight 1-0 wins in December – against struggling Cagliari and away at relegation battlers Verona and Empoli. These unspectacular yet pivotal victories sandwiched a difficult 0-2 home loss to title challengers Inter Milan on December 18th. Lazio ended 2023 with a comfortable 3-1 home win over newcomers Frosinone on December 30th, overturning an early deficit as veteran Vargas Castellanos and emerging talents Isaksen and Patric found the net.
Overall, Lazio seem to have addressed periodic defensive issues and are now adept at battling out tight wins, even when not playing at full potential. This steel and game management ability could serve them well during the Serie A run-in. If coach Maurizio Sarri can unlock Lazio’s array of attacking talents while maintaining defensive solidity, a late push to qualify for Europe is not out of the question as consistency returns to their performances.
