Udinese vs Sassuolo – News and Probable Lineups

Both teams suffered defeats last week, as mid-table rivals Udinese and Sassuolo prepare to clash in the Serie A’s Sunday lunchtime match.

Both clubs were left without points on matchday 24 after enjoying back-to-back wins, and with that, they now aim for an immediate response.

Match overview

Udinese’s winning run, which marked their first consecutive league victories since September, was abruptly interrupted by Lecce last weekend.

A 3-1 away win against Hellas Verona had propelled them into the top 10, and they cemented that position with a victory over Roma at home, but Kosta Runjaic’s team experienced disappointment with a late defeat at Stadio Via del Mare.

Struggling to find the back of the net, particularly with key forwards Keinan Davis and Nicolo Zaniolo not fully fit, they conceded a last-minute goal from Lameck Banda that resulted in a 2-1 loss.

Still, they maintained their ninth position—just above struggling Bologna—with a total of 32 points, positioning themselves for a comfortable mid-table finish.

Thus far this season, Udinese’s home record has four wins, four losses, and four draws, while averaging just one goal per match.

However, the Friuli side remains unbeaten in six home encounters against Sassuolo, holding a three-point advantage over them in the Serie A table.

After securing a 3-1 win in the previous encounter in September, Sassuolo is aiming to achieve their first top-flight victory in Udine, which would equal their points with Udinese.

The Neroverdi are also eager to rebound from a heavy defeat to league leaders Inter Milan, who comfortably won 5-0 last Sunday.

The defeat at Mapei Stadium was further complicated for Sassuolo, as Nemanja Matic was sent off for dissent while Inter dominated the match, stifling Sassuolo’s recent resurgence.

The return of key player and captain Domenico Berardi had previously sparked victories against Cremonese and Pisa, but Fabio Grosso’s team could not cope with the Scudetto favorites.

Now, after last season’s Serie B triumph, they must travel, having secured only one win in their last six away matches—even though they had previously collected 10 points from the last four outings.

Team News

Udinese still faces absences with first-choice striker Davis and ACL injury sufferer Alessandro Zanoli out, but Polish forwards Adam Buksa and Jakub Piotrowski have returned to full training.

After undergoing knee surgery, Zaniolo recently had a brief appearance against his former club Roma before another substitute outing against Lecce, so he could possibly be ready for a start.

With Hassane Kamara still managing a persistent foot issue, Jordânia Zemura is likely to continue on the left flank for the hosts.

On the other hand, Sassuolo midfielder Matic has received a two-match suspension for verbal abuse directed at the referee during the previous match against Inter.

He will join long-term absentees Edoardo Pieragnolo and Fali Cande on the sidelines; it is uncertain if Daniel Boloca will recover from a knee concern.

In the attacking third, Berardi will support sole striker Andrea Pinamonti, who has scored four times against Udinese but has not netted in Serie A since November.

Udinese probable starting XI:

Okoye; Bertola, Kristensen, Solet; Ehizibue, Atta, Karlstrom, Ekkelenkamp, ​​Zemura; Zaniolo; Bayo

Sassuolo probable starting XI:

Muric; Walukiewicz, Idzes, Muharemovic, Doig; Thorstvedt, Lipani, Kone; Berardi, Pinamonti, Lauriente

Although Udinese may not be the most prolific side, they have shown themselves quite resilient at home, losing only a third of their league matches.

Conversely, Sassuolo’s away performances have drastically declined, as they have conceded many goals since the year began.