Serie A: Napoli to Put Its Foot Down in Udine

Udinese vs Napoli

Antonio Conte’s Napoli are back on the Scudetto trail on Sunday when they head north to Giulia to take on Kosta Runjaic’s Udinese Calcio.

The 2025 Serie A champions are in second place, behind AC Milan on goal difference alone, and they will accept no less than three points from this trip. Last week, Napoli had a Sunday showdown with Juventus and came out on top with a 2-1 victory thanks to a Rasmus Hojlund brace. Meanwhile, 11^th placed Udinese endured a tough November and fell to a 2-1 defeat at home to Genoa last time out.

Napoli visited Benfica in the Champions League on Wednesday and had a bad night, as the Portuguese giants pulled off a 2-0 win, leaving I Partenopei hovering above the elimination block. But Conte’s focus will be on domestic football on Sunday, and his team will be ready to go again.

 

Talking Points

Tough run for Udinese

Le Zebrette finished 12^th last term, and currently, they are sitting comfortably in 11^th in the Serie A table. Runjaic can be pretty happy with that when you look at the fixtures his side has endured over the past few weeks. Udinese started November with a hard-earned 1-0 win over Atalanta, a club in transition. But then, they lost to Roma and Bologna, currently fourth and fifth, before grabbing some respite with a 2-0 win away to Parma.

Next up, it was Juventus away in the Coppa Italia, and Udinese lost that one 2-0, conceding in either side of halftime. And during their loss at home to Genoa last week, Le Zebrette looked a bit leggy, which is hardly surprising after such a brutal run.

After a strong start to the campaign, this sequence has seen Runjaic’s men drift six points below the European places, and to face the reigning champions next is unlikely to provide any respite.

Udinese will look to the rejuvenated Nicolo Zaniolo to continue his rich vein of form after he was on target in the 2-0 win over Parma, and he also bagged the winner against Atalanta. His partner up front, Keinan Davis, scored the other goal against Parma, and he too is on four goals for the campaign. Davis has been carrying a calf strain and is doubtful for the clash with Napoli, but there could be a return for long-term absentee Thomas Kristensen in defence.

 

All hands to the pump for Napoli

Three consecutive league wins and a passage through the Coppa Italia has made it a good month for Napoli, as they climbed back up to the summit alongside AC Milan. This impressive set of Serie A 2025 results is even more so when you consider the injury list that Conte has been working with.

His summer marquee signing, Kevin De Bruyne is out, alongside first-team regulars Romelu Lukaku, Stanislav Lobotka, Frank Anguissa, and keeper Alex Meret. The manager praised the physical and mental effort of his team to beat the Old Lady last week and complete an unbeaten calendar year at the Stadio Diego Maradona.

The form of Hojlund has been a bonus, particularly with Lukaku sidelined, and Conte is being creative with his team. And utility player David Neres can be pushed further forward, while the irrepressible Scott McTominay is still going strong in midfield.

The latest Serie A 2025 betting odds place I Partenopei in second place. But if Conte can keep his fit and firing players going and get bodies back in the new year, Napoli will be dreaming of a third Scudetto in four seasons.

 

History

I Partenopei have won 21 of the most recent 38 encounters with Udinese, losing five, and there have been 12 draws. At the Dacia Arena in Udine, it has been more even, with seven Napoli wins to four for Udinese and four draws. When they met here last December, Napoli ran out 3-1 winners before the two teams played out a 1-1 draw in Naples two months later.

In terms of recent form, the visitors are stronger. Napoli have won four, drawn one, and lost one of their last six outings, while Udinese have won two and lost four.

Betting Tip

The Serie A title race is bubbling up beautifully and Roma’s loss away to Cagliari last week gave Napoli, along with the two Milan clubs, a chance to pull away. And Conte knows his team needs to keep its foot on the gas on Sunday.

The hosts are priced at SBOTOP odds of 4.33 and the draw is 3.30, so this will not be a walkover, but I expect Napoli to do the business.

   

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