Udinese is set to host Palermo in a Coppa Italia round-of-16 match this Tuesday at the Blue Energy Stadium. Both teams come into this encounter on the back of contrasting results in their respective leagues. Udinese recently suffered a 3-0 defeat to Serie A giants AC Milan, marking their first loss of the league campaign. Meanwhile, Palermo is riding high after securing a 2-0 victory against Bari in Serie B.
Entering this stage of the competition, Palermo triumphed over Carrarese with a 2-0 win in a prior round, aided by goals from Arthur Atta and Iker Bravo. On the other hand, Udinese has historically struggled in the Coppa Italia, failing to advance beyond the round of 16 since reaching the semi-finals in the 2013-14 season.
Despite their recent setback against AC Milan, Udinese has shown encouraging form overall, with three wins and a draw in their prior four matches. They hold a psychological edge over Palermo, having won their last two encounters with a 7-2 aggregate score. Conversely, Palermo boasts an unbeaten start to their Serie B campaign, with three wins and a draw out of four fixtures, providing them with confidence heading into this fixture.
Palermo was knocked out in the second round last season after a heavy defeat to Napoli, yet this year they maintain aspirations for a deeper run in the competition. Their defensive strength has been evident recently, with no goals conceded in their last three matches, although historically they have struggled to contain Udinese, allowing nine goals in their past five competitive meetups with them.
Team news indicates that Udinese will be missing several key players due to injury. Goalkeeper Daniele Padelli and forward Vakoun Issouf Bayo are both sidelined with knee injuries. Slovenian midfielder Sandi Lovric will also miss the match due to a muscular issue. Palermo faces less adversity with only Alfred Gomis out due to a broken arm, but Jesse Joronen is expected to capably manage the goalkeeper role.
Considering the current form and injury concerns, Udinese appears equipped to overcome Palermo in this match. A 2-0 victory for the home side is anticipated, though both teams show potential to make a mark in this season’s Coppa Italia.
With both squads striving to move beyond the limitations of past seasons, fans can expect a competitive and spirited contest at the Blue Energy Stadium.