Preview: Venezia vs. Udinese - prediction, team news, lineups

Relegation-threatened Venezia head into Sunday's fixture with Udinese looking to end a five-match losing streak in Serie A.

While the home side currently sit three points adrift of safety, Udinese's recent improvements have led to them occupying 13th position in the standings.

Match preview

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When former Crawley Town boss Gabriele Cioffi was placed in caretaker charge of Udinese in December, few would have expected the 46-year-old to be anything more than a short-term appointment.

However, last weekend's 5-1 victory over Cagliari made it 17 points from 13 league matches, a more than acceptable record given the poorer return of his predecessor.

Now 11 points above the relegation zone with matches in hand, Udinese are realistically on the brink of avoiding any kind of a battle for safety, but Cioffi's eyes will be on ensuring that his side reach May higher than last season's 14th-placed finish.

Beto scored a hat-trick during last week's dominant win, the forward finally ending a goal drought which had lasted since January 9.

With I Bianconeri scoring in their last six league matches, everything appears to be heading in an upward direction, although it will not be lost on Venezia that Udinese have gone seven fixtures without keeping a clean sheet.

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That said, Venezia head into this contest having failed to score in their last three outings, their barren spell coming at the wrong time as they bid to remain in the top flight.

Ahead of fixtures with Sampdoria and Spezia, boss Paolo Zanetti would have acknowledged that his team required points from at least one of those games, but two further defeats have left Leoni alati will no momentum.

While just one victory has been recorded in 17 league fixtures, Venezia somehow remain within three points of moving into 17th position, although they are running out of favourable fixtures to collect much-needed points.

Venezia have gone 10 matches without recording a home win, but their two successes on familiar territory this campaign have been against Fiorentina and Roma.

Team News

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Zanetti will not feel obliged to make widespread changes to his Venezia XI with their defeat at Spezia coming courtesy of a 93rd-minute winner.

However, having served a one-match suspension, Thomas Henry should return to the attack, possibly taking the spot of David Okereke.

Domen Crnigoj could also be brought into the team if Zanetti wants a different look to his midfield, with Antonio Vacca potentially missing out.

Udinese will be forced into at least one change with Roberto Pereyra serving a one-match ban for collecting five yellow cards.

Tolgay Arslan is likely to come into the midfield unless Ignacio Pussetto is deployed in a more advanced role.

Venezia possible starting lineup:

Maenpaa; Ebuehi, Caldra, Ceccaroni, Haps; Cuisance, Ampadu, Crnigoj; Aramu, Henry, Johnsen

Udinese possible starting lineup:

Silvestri; Becao, Nuytinck, Zeegelaar; Molina, Arslan, Walace, Makengo, Udogie; Beto, Success

We say: Venezia 1-2 Udinese

Holding home advantage, we cannot write off Venezia as they battle for survival. However, their form suggests that confidence is low within the camp, and that is something which Udinese should take advantage of given their own form and being on the brink of securing their top-flight status for another year with games to spare.