Udinese vs Lecce: Serie A Matchweek 7 Preview
Two struggling sides desperate for points meet on Sunday in a must-win clash
Four defeats in their last six. That's the uncomfortable reality facing Udinese going into Sunday's home clash with Lecce, and let's be honest, the numbers behind that run make grim reading. They've shipped 13 goals across those six matches, including a brutal 5-3 hiding at Inter and a 2-1 defeat to Torino, while goalkeeper M. Okoye has already been called upon for 8 saves in just 2 appearances this season. The only silver lining? They can still score — 9 goals in those 6 games tells you the attacking intent is there. H. Kamara has been the standout, contributing 2 goals and 1 assist in 2 appearances, which puts him among the top performers in Serie A this season alongside the likes of D. Malen at Roma who has 5 goals from 2 apps. J. Ekkelenkamp adds another goal and an assist from the same number of games. The problem is everything happening at the other end.
The injury situation isn't helping either. Udinese are missing four players, including striker V. Bayo with a hamstring issue, forward I. Gueye with an ankle injury not expected to be resolved until January 2027, and midfielder J. Piotrowski with an unknown complaint. That's a significant chunk of forward and midfield options stripped away ahead of a match they badly need to win. M. Vojvoda has been active with 4 key passes in 2 appearances from the right wing, and with Piotrowski out, the creative burden shifts further onto his shoulders and those of J. Karlström in the middle.
Here's the thing about Lecce, though — they're not exactly arriving in confident shape themselves. Two wins and four defeats from their last six, with 12 goals conceded in that run, including a 3-0 thumping at AC Milan and a 1-2 home loss to Bologna. They did manage a 3-2 win over Monza, which at least showed they can find the net, but their defensive record is almost as troubling as Udinese's. W. Falcone has made 10 saves in goal from 2 appearances and claimed 1 clean sheet, while the back four of Danilo Veiga, Kialonda Gaspar, J. Siebert and C. Ndaba has been kept reasonably busy. Lecce also go in without striker N. Štulić, who is sidelined with muscular problems, which blunts their attacking options considerably. Midfielder Olaf Gorter chipping in with a goal from midfield has been a small bonus, and L. Coulibaly's 3 key passes and 1 assist from central midfield give them some craft going forward.
This is, on paper, a match between two sides who have struggled badly at the back and are hunting points to avoid the wrong end of the Serie A standings. Fantasy football managers chasing differential picks might have an eye on Kamara given his output, but Sunday's match is really about who wants it more. Both defences have been leaky, both attacks are functional without being clinical. Udinese are at home and despite their form, that attacking record suggests they can find the net. With Lecce missing their main striker and arriving after back-to-back defeats, I'd back Udinese to edge this one and finally end that four-match losing run.
