Udinese vs Venezia Prediction: Match Preview Coppa Italia Round of 32
The Coppa Italia is gradually entering a more serious stage, and one of the most intriguing Round of 32 ties will see Udinese host Venezia. The match will take place on 2 September at the Bluenergy Stadium, with not only a place in the next round at stake but also the opportunity to face Atalanta in the Round of 16. The tie will be decided over a single match, leaving virtually no room for error.
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Udinese have made a fairly lively start to the season. In the opening round of Serie A, Kosta Runjaic's side drew 1-1 with Como before producing a strong finish against Monza. The Zebras won 3-2 away from home, scoring three times before the break. Jakub Piotrowski, Hassane Kamara and Jurgen Ekkelenkamp were all on the scoresheet. After two rounds, Udinese already have four points, and, more importantly, the team have shown character and the ability to grow into matches.
The hosts have also already cleared one hurdle in the cup. In the Round of 64, Udinese edged past Padova with a 1-0 victory, with Kingsley Davis scoring the only goal. The level of opposition will now be considerably higher, but home advantage and current form clearly favour Runjaic's side.
Venezia are in a noticeably more difficult position. Giovanni Stroppa's side returned to Serie A after winning promotion from Serie B last season, but their start to the new campaign has not been particularly encouraging. First, the Venetian side lost 2-0 at home to Lecce before suffering another 2-0 defeat against AC Milan at San Siro. However, their performance against the Rossoneri was not completely hopeless: Venezia held firm for a long time before conceding twice after the break.
Things have been more positive in the Coppa Italia, though. In the Round of 64, Venezia beat Modena 3-2. Forward Akor Adams was the star of the match, scoring twice. After the game, Stroppa specifically praised his team's physical strength and individual quality but admitted that the players needed to improve their ball retention and fitness.
That is where the main question ahead of the match emerges. On the one hand, Udinese look more consistent: they have already collected four league points, won their most recent match and will be playing at home. On the other, Venezia will surely understand that the cup could provide a good opportunity to kick-start their season after two Serie A defeats. Cup matches, after all, often follow their own rules.
Stylistically, we could be in for a fairly open game. Udinese have already shown that they can exploit space effectively and create chances through quick attacks. It will be particularly interesting to watch Kamara and Ekkelenkamp, who both impressed against Monza. Venezia's main weapon, meanwhile, is Adams, who has already found the net in the cup and clearly has no intention of stopping there.
Nevertheless, Udinese still appear to be the favourites. The hosts have started the season better, are in a positive frame of mind and will have the backing of their home supporters. Venezia will need to improve significantly in front of goal if they want to progress.
My prediction: Both Teams to Score — Yes.
