SPAL endured another fruitless adventure in Sampdoria last time out, falling 3-0 to record their third defeat in their last four, while their visitors Udinese threw away three points by virtue of two late goals against Genoa.
Serie A 2019/2020
Date: Thursday July 9th
Kick-off: 18: 30
Venue: Stadio Paolo Mazza
Rock-bottom SPAL continue to sink without trace in recent weeks, and are now nine points shy of safety after the thrashing in Genova last Sunday.
While they cannot afford to let that deficit to move into double figures with few matches left on their schedule, more worrying is that they still have the likes of Internazionale and Roma to play before the end of their campaign.
Luigi Di Biagio’s job will come under stern scrutiny in the off-season no doubt, but what is very much clear is that his firepower have thoroughly underwhelmed throughout the season. SPAL’s tally of 23 league goals is the least in the whole of Serie A teams, as also a league-worst -30 goal difference.
With just one win from their last 11 league games (D5, L5), Udinese on their part have not pulled up trees.
Holding a healthy 2-0 moving into the 81st minute in Udine last weekend and having looked home and dry when Kevin Lasagna struck in the 73rd, I Bianconeri somehow threw away two points no thanks to two late goals.
They are still five clear of Genoa in 18th however, but are beginning to nervously look over their shoulders as the season narrows down. With SPAL unbeaten in five Serie A home games against them (D2, L3), will it influence the odds, and bring some value for punters in the betting?
Team news
SPAL
Andrea Petagna is unlikely to move straight back into the starting XI here on return from suspension, while Thiago Cionek is on the naughty step after picking up his 10th yellow card.
The trio of Etrit Berisha, Ervin Zukanovic and Federico Di Francesco are still nursing injuries and as such, are ruled out of this one.
Udinese
Ken Sema picked up his fifth yellow of the campaign at the weekend and so misses out.
Rolando Mandragora is still on the mend.
Head to Head
SPAL have won two of the last six competitive games with Udinese, while their opposition had managed to get the better of them once. Three other meetings had ended as draws.
Team form
SPAL last five competitive games: WLLDL
Udinese last five competitive games: DLLWD
Betting tips
SPAL have little choice but to throw caution to the wind now as their safety in the topflight for another season is fast dwindling, and will only depend on getting points on board. They will need to go for the kill on Thursday but Luca Gotti’s Udinese are beginning to put in more grit and resolve upfront. This game have the likelihood to go bonkers in terms of goals and we will back an over 2.5 match which is priced 11/10 by BetClever.
On the goal-scorers market, Kevin Lasagna is a decent enough option to bank, with the Udinese man having scored four times in his last three games. He is 15/8 to score anytime here, and should get enough chances to fill his boots on Thursday.
