This is our best free tip for Monday night!
There are few star teams in Europe that play their remaining games without any stakes.
And this is the case with Inter. The Nerrazurri are marching towards the Scudetto without a problem, and having already been knocked out of the Champions League and the Italian Cup, the only question is when they can celebrate mathematically. Simone Inzaghi’s side visit Friuli on Monday night, where Udinese still need a few points.
The team in zebra stripes are in 15th place, and in the round their biggest rivals Sassuolo and Frosinone lost, while Verona won, so the situation is getting scratchy. The draw for Gabriele Cioffi’s side is not too favourable either, with Inter, Roma, Napoli and Empoli at home and Verona, Bologna, Lecce and Frosinone away. The list also suggests that the points that will keep them in the table are more likely to be won away from home, but Thauvini’s side are struggling away from home this season anyway. Only Lucca’s suspension is a problem for the master, and Success will replace him in the starting line-up – well, not in terms of quality…
With Lucca’s departure, Udine have lost their top scorer, Success, for example, has 0 goals in 23 games this season – although he has averaged just 30 minutes.
This clearly shows what the biggest problem is for the team, and the scoring problem could be even bigger on Monday night.
The best defence in the league comes to the Friuli, who have conceded just 14 goals this season, and 19 in their 30 league games. Inzaghi could rest and perhaps give youngsters a chance, but that will probably come after the gold medal. So, based on the provisional starting 11 (barring injuries to Cuadrado and De Vrij), the strongest 11 could take the field in Udine.
In early December Inter won 4-0 at home, but to little surprise last September Udinese kept the 3 points at home. Now it would be a big surprise, just as it would be if Cioffi’s men scored.
Our best bet is to see the home side fail to score a goal, which seems quite likely at this stage.