Udinese

Udinese are one of Serie A's most recognisable mid-table institutions, a club from the Friuli region of north-eastern Italy that has long been known for its distinctive black-and-white identity and a reputation for punching above its weight. The Zebrette have spent the bulk of the modern era in the top flight, typically operating in the middle of the standings and occasionally pushing towards the European places, a record that reflects a club comfortable competing against better-resourced rivals.

The current campaign, however, has been a difficult one. Through 11 Serie A matches, Udinese have collected one win, two draws and eight defeats, leaving them with a goal difference of minus 13 from 12 goals scored and 25 conceded. The recent form line of DWLLLLLLDLL tells its own story: just one victory and two draws in the sequence, with a run of six consecutive defeats in the middle of it. Under P. Zanetti, the side has struggled for consistency at both ends of the pitch.

The numbers point to problems on both sides of the ball. Averaging roughly 1.1 goals per game while shipping more than two per match, Udinese have kept only one clean sheet and failed to score in four of their 11 outings. Home form has been particularly troubling, with no wins from six games at the Stadio Friuli and five defeats, while the away record of one win, one draw and three losses from five has been comparatively steadier. For a club that has historically relied on organisation and resilience to stay clear of trouble, the priority will be tightening up defensively and finding a more reliable attacking output to arrest a sharp slide down the table.