On Sunday, December 1, Udinese and Genoa will face off in the 14th round of Serie A. Since 2018, the teams have played 10 head-to-head matches: Udinese claimed three wins, while Genoa secured just one victory, which came in their most recent encounter. Away wins are a rarity in this fixture. Despite low-scoring trends in their clashes, the 2-2 draw has appeared three times, making it the most common result.
Udinese
Udinese’s rough patch has been so prolonged that they risk sliding further down the Serie A standings. Heading into this match against Genoa, the Zebrette are on a four-match winless streak. However, only one of those games was at home — a 0-2 loss to Juventus — with the others being tough away fixtures. At their home ground, Stadio Friuli, Udinese have been far more dominant, with both their home losses coming against Serie A giants Juventus and Inter Milan. Against lower-table teams, the Bianconeri have consistently kept clean sheets, which currently places them in 9th position.
Genoa
Genoa are firmly in the group of Serie A relegation contenders. Recently, the club brought in legendary French midfielder Patrick Vieira as their new head coach in an effort to turn things around and avoid relegation. However, it’s still early days for Vieira, and the squad quality resembles that of a Serie B team. A defensive approach, parking the bus, will likely be their strategy in Udine. Genoa currently sit 17th in the table.
Player to Watch: Maduka Okoye
The Nigerian goalkeeper has been Udinese’s undisputed first-choice shot-stopper in Serie A since the start of 2024. His last clean sheet came over a month ago in a 2-0 win over Cagliari. Since then, Okoye has conceded eight goals in four matches, though much of the blame lies with the entire team. Genoa have struggled to score on the road, giving Okoye an excellent chance to secure another clean sheet. A bet on Udinese keeping a clean sheet could be a strong option. The odds of that happening are estimated by 1xBet at 2.3.
Related article: Okoye Shines in the Serie A: Salary and Prospects of the Young Nigerian Goalkeeper
Prediction and Betting Tips
The hosts are understandably considered favourites for this match. Udinese, after a strong start to the season, have hit a rough patch, managing only one draw in their last four games. Meanwhile, Genoa have avoided defeat in their last three matches. However, Udinese’s home form is far superior to their away performances, making a home victory a logical prediction. Betting on the home side looks like a safe bet for 2.071 at 1xBet.
