The 17th round of Serie A sees Fiorentina playing host to Udinese on December 23 at the Stadio Artemio Franchi. Following their unexpected loss to Bologna, the "Viola" will be eager to restore their image as they currently rank fourth on the league table.
Fiorentina, under the guidance of coach Raffaele Palladino, kicked off their season with remarkable performances but stumbled with their recent 0-1 defeat against Bologna, halting their 8-match unbeaten streak. This hiccup has left them with 31 points, trailing the league leaders, Atalanta, by 6 points. A bright spot for Fiorentina is their strong home performance, with 11 matches played at home without defeat, with 7 wins and 4 draws.
Despite the recent setback, Fiorentina has showcased their attacking prowess throughout the season. They led the league alongside Napoli for the fewest goals conceded, showing defensive strength alongside their offensive capabilities. Key midfielder Edoardo Bove will miss the match due to health issues and defender Dodo will be serving a suspension.
On the other side, Udinese enters the match struggling with consistency, having secured just 1 win out of their last 8 matches, placing them at the 9th spot with 20 points. They experienced another setback against Napoli with a 1-3 defeat, which marked their fifth loss out of seven recent games. This reflected their defensive vulnerabilities, particularly evident with the 14 goals they've conceded away this season.
Udinese coach Kosta Runjaic will be trying to regroup his squad to find the form they enjoyed at the beginning of the season when they threatened the top spots. Injuries have hit them hard with key players like Gerard Deulofeu ruled out for the match, leaving the team heavily reliant on forward Florian Thauvin for creativity.
Given the current form and statistical performance, Fiorentina boasts the upper hand. The home team has demonstrated reliability at home, and odds suggest their victory is highly likely at 1.65. Historical data is also favorable, with Fiorentina winning 14 of the last 16 encounters against Udinese at Franchi Stadium.
The analysis points out several betting trends: Fiorentina has not lost at home to Udinese for the last three matches and has recorded home victories with multiple goals against them historically. Given their ability to score at least two goals at home, betting on Fiorentina to win with over 2.5 total goals seems reasonable.
Fiorentina's recent performances at home featured numerous goals, with at least three goals appearing in 8 out of their last 10 series A matches. This indicates promising potential for fans and punters alike to expect another high-scoring encounter against struggling Udinese.
Overall, the upcoming match presents Fiorentina with the perfect opportunity to bounce back and solidify their contention for top positions, especially against a wavering Udinese side. Local supporters will expect nothing less than to see their team return to winning ways.
Match Prediction:
— Fiorentina win at odds of 1.65
— Total goals over 2.5 at odds of 1.94
— Individual Total Fiorentina under 2.0 at odds of 1.90
— Individual Total Udinese under 1.0 at odds of 2.25
With the pressured circumstances at hand, will Fiorentina capitalize on their home advantage? Only time will tell as both teams take the pitch this December 23.
