Lecce set for one final relegation battle in Udine
Lecce travel to Udinese knowing that only a win will do in their fight against relegation while hoping Genoa slip up against Sassuolo in the early kick-off. Can the Giallorossi complete the great escape? Have a read of our preview here:
Udinese should be safe
The years of Udinese playing in Europe and finishing in the higher echelons of Serie A appear well behind us, but they have not yet sunk to the depths where relegation is a real concern.
It may well have been if it were not for important wins against both Roma and Juventus in the last month. Those victories coupled with the three points picked up against lowly SPAL have ensured they are almost certain of another year in the top flight.
With the Pozzo family seeing their Watford team slip out of the Premier League, it is difficult to know what the future holds for the Zebrette.
They were once a team that graced the Champions League, but in recent years have struggled to make an impact in the domestic game, often making up the numbers.
This season has been no different and the fans are hoping they will sign a goal scorer to help bolster their chances of success in 2020/21.
Rodrigo de Paul and Matteo Jajalo make up a solid midfield with the latter seen as the key player in this side.
If they can keep De Paul next season, and that is by no means certain, they have a core to build around. Seko Fofana has impressed at times and will be expected to improve again next year but it is hard to see this team getting back to the glory years any time soon.
Lecce a rarity amongst the Serie A elite
Lecce playing in Apulia are one of the most southerly teams in Italian football’s top flight.
For this fact, they are a rarity. With Palermo now in Serie D and Bari, Lecce’s historic rivals, in Serie C (both have earned promotion this season) it will be at least another season before the numbers of sides south of Rome go back up.
Benevento will be there next season as will Crotone, but it will be sad if Lecce cannot pull off a miracle and survive.
Fabio Liverani worked wonders getting them promoted last season but they have not been able to shake the mantra of southern strugglers and look set to fall back into B at the first hurdle.
Genoa are the only team they can catch but their defeat to Grifone on 19 July looks set to be the final nail in the coffin.
They lost in injury time to Bologna prior to taking on Udinese and then conclude their campaign at home to out of form Parma.
Genoa have to play Sassuolo and Hellas Verona, certainly a trickier final two games but also hold a vital four-point advantage at the time of writing. One more win will be enough for the Rossoblu and they may well have that before Lecce kick a ball in Udine.
Udinese vs Lecce betting tip
Lecce will be going all out for this one and so will leave themselves vulnerable on the break. They can’t really afford to sit back and so we are backing both teams to score at odds of 1.57 with bet365.
