Napoli vs. Udinese: Issues and Decisions That Will Shape Coppa Italia Game
After a tough away win at Lazio, Napoli welcome Udinese in a round-of-16 Coppa Italia tie.
It was an important win for the Partenopei, who edged the Biancocelesti and are now tied for third place. Speaking after the game, coach Rafael Benitez told Sky Sport Italia (h/t Football Italia):
"We had a difficult start to the season after the defeat to Athletic Bilbao, then got back on form. We had another dip and recovered.
I liked the second half against Juventus and we all saw what happened in that game, so the performance was still good.
As I said, there are many points up for grabs, but every game will be difficult, so we have to take it one match at a time.
"
Looking ahead to this match, Rafa’s men will enter the battlefield duly prepared. They are the cup holders and will want to re-enact a similar feat. But first, they will have to be weary of manager Andrea Stramaccioni’s Udinese. The San Paolo is no longer the fortress that it was last season.
Over the following pages, we will examine the key issues and decisions that will likely shape this match.
How Will Manolo Gabbiadini Fare on His Full Debut
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Manolo Gabbiadini arrived from Sampdoria this January, but he is expected to help shore up the gap in attack left by Lorenzo Insigne. The forward has registered just 18 minutes for Napoli—a small cameo against former parent-club Juventus—and he will be looking to begin a great relationship in front of the home supporters.
The 23-year-old will likely feature at right wing in place of Jose Callejon—deployed in the same position in Samp coach Sinisa Mihajlovic’s 4-3-3 setup. Wielding a deadly left foot, he has already netted nine goals for the Blucerchiati in all competitions, per WhoScored.com. He has a great shot and could test Udinese with strikes from outside the area.
Partenopei fans will take pleasure in the fact that Gabbiadini has already scored against Udinese this season, a great snapshot header to level the score at 2-2. They’re hoping for more of the same against the Zebrette.
How Will Squad Rotation Affect Napoli’s Play?
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We all know how much Benitez enjoys rotating his squad. The Spanish tactician could very well make up to seven or eight changes in this Coppa Italia match. Second-choice goalkeeper Mariano Andujar has only played in one game this campaign so he could get a start.
A total defensive reorganization could take place, seeing Giandomenico Mesto, Henrique and Miguel Britos all playing from the first whistle. In the double pivot, 23-year-old Jorginho has shown signs of promise for the Partenopei this year, so he too could get the nod.
In attack, we’ll likely see Gabbiadini utilised at right wing with Marek Hamsik and Duvan Zapata rounding out the last substitutions for Napoli’s front line. With this many changes being made, Partenopei supporters are praying for consistency.
It’s not too uncommon for this Napoli side to play down to their opponent's level and lose concentration—especially after a big victory—so that is one issue Benitez will need to address in his pre-match talk. The club do have an important home fixture on Monday against Genoa so Rafa will be hoping his starting XI do not need to intervene to close out the tie.
Bogey Opponent in Udinese
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Udinese have already sunk Napoli’s heart this season with a scrappy 1-0 home win back in September. It is obvious Napoli will be out for revenge and must feel confident competing against a midtable side, but they must also take into account the mental aspect of this tie.
According to WhoScored, Napoli have managed to defeat Udinese only once in their last six encounters. That has to be a genuine area of concern leading up to the match for Benitez.
If the Partenopei get an early goal, they just might get their first victory against the Zebrette since 2012.
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