Udinese suffered a bitter 1-3 defeat in Sassuolo and are still waiting for their first home win of the season, while Cagliari were shocked by the serious cruciate ligament injury to their striker Andrea Belotti after their 0-2 home defeat to Inter. On matchday 6 of Serie A, Udinese welcomes Cagliari, which is level on points, in a duel between two teams in poor form. Both teams have seven points, with the Sardinians currently in 11th place and the Friulians one place behind. Coach Kosta Runjaić emphasizes that his young team must learn to deal with setbacks: “Bisogna convivere con le sconfitte, bisogna capire come reagire.” Striker Belotti will be out for at least six months, which poses new challenges for the Sardinians’ offense. Gaetano is also injured and could be missing. At Udinese, Nicolò Zaniolo continues to work on his integration, while Adam Buksa is back in training after his cheekbone fracture but is still wearing a mask. Regular goalkeeper Okoye is still out due to a suspension from the sports court. Udinese won the last meeting in May 2-1 away from home. In general, the statistics favor the home side, who have won 31 of 71 direct duels. Despite being level on points, the bookmakers see Udinese as clear favorites.
- Venue: Bluenergy Stadium – Stadio Friuli, Udine
- Date and time: October 5, 2025, 12:30 p.m.
- Competition: Serie A (Matchday 6)
The absence of Belotti, who has already scored three goals, not only robs Cagliari of their main striker, but also changes the entire offensive structure of the Sardinians. Goalkeeper Radunović is also missing, and the visitors have conceded goals in three consecutive games, calling their defensive stability into question. Udinese traditionally show strength at home against Cagliari, with 20 wins from 36 league games, and coach Runjaić is still unbeaten against the Sardinians. The bet on “Both teams to score: No” is particularly interesting given the visitors’ current personnel problems and Udinese’s ability to defend cleanly in the first half. The odds of 2.2 for a home win are certainly attractive, especially as the betting market favors Udinese, but their historical dominance and current circumstances could justify even more confidence. For those willing to take a risk, “Over 1.5 goals – 1st half” is a good option, as four of Udinese’s five games have seen at least two goals before the break and Cagliari have recently come under pressure early on.
Udinese Calcio Form & Record Check
After a promising start to the season, the Friulians are going through a period of consolidation. Following opening victories against Inter and Pisa, Udinese have recently suffered two painful defeats. The 0-3 home defeat to Milan was still bearable, but the 1-3 defeat in Sassuolo hurt much more, especially as Udinese were already two goals down after twelve minutes. Coach Kosta Runjaić is realistic and talks about a necessary learning process for his young team. This philosophy is currently being put to the test. In the last five league games, Udinese has only picked up seven points, which puts them in 12th place in the table. The Friulians’ defensive vulnerability is striking: in four of their last five games, they have conceded goals, often in the first half. The game against Sassuolo was symptomatic, although the team at least showed morale and fought their way back into the game through Davis before Iannoni sealed the deal. Runjaić is struggling with a number of personnel issues. Striker Buksa is still suffering from the effects of his cheekbone fracture and is wearing a protective mask. The Pole is back in training, but not yet at 100 percent. On the positive side, Bayo is fit again and could be an option against Cagliari. The statistics show interesting patterns: Udinese have not drawn in their last five games and have never won a second half. At the same time, four out of five games have seen over 2.5 goals scored.
Coach Runjaić is likely to stick with his tried-and-tested 3-5-2 system against Cagliari. The personnel situation remains tense: Okoye is still suspended by the sports court, which means Sava will be between the posts. Buksa has returned to training but is still wearing a mask after his cheekbone fracture and is not 100% fit. In the back three, young Palma could get another chance after making his league debut against Sassuolo. Kristensen and Solet are likely to complete the defense. In midfield, Lovrić is available again after returning from international duty, even if he would like more playing time. Zaniolo is expected to start up front again after Runjaić emphasized that the Italian is “getting better every day” and needs patience with his integration. Davis is likely to lead the attack after his goal in Sassuolo.
Cagliari Form & Record Check
Cagliari has shown mixed form in recent weeks. The Sardinians are safely mid-table in eleventh place with seven points, although their recent defeat to Inter (0-2) highlighted the team’s problems. Despite a decent defensive performance, they conceded two goals and failed to score themselves. Their form in recent games has been a mixed bag. A convincing 4-1 win against Frosinone in the cup was followed by an important 2-1 away win in Lecce and a solid 2-0 home win against Parma. However, these successes were overshadowed by a sobering performance against the Nerazzurri, when the team was barely able to develop any noteworthy offensive actions. The loss of Andrea Belotti is particularly serious. The veteran underwent successful surgery after his cruciate ligament injury and will be out for at least six months. The former international had made a promising start with an assist against Parma and two goals in Lecce. Coach Fabio Pisacane also has to do without other players. Gabriele Zappa is struggling with thigh problems, while Boris Radunović is out with a calf injury. Interestingly, statistics show that Cagliari has not drawn in its last five games, which indicates a certain determination but also suggests instability.
Cagliari are likely to line up in their usual 3-5-2 formation, after interim coach Pisacane has stuck with this system in recent weeks. Caprile is expected to start in goal, while the back three could consist of Zé Pedro, Mina, and Luperto. The absences are certainly causing headaches: Belotti is out long term after his cruciate ligament surgery, while Zappa is sidelined with a thigh injury. Zappa’s absence on the right wing is particularly significant, which is why Palestra is likely to move into the starting lineup. Folorunsho could play a central role in attacking midfield. Esposito and Luvumbo are expected to lead the line, with both under pressure after recent mixed performances. Interestingly, Gaetano could start on the bench despite his recent flexor problems if he is fit in time. Coach Pisacane has several options on the bench, including the experienced Pavoletti.
H2H Udinese Calcio – Cagliari Head-to-head comparison & statistics
The recent record between Udinese and Cagliari paints an interesting picture: in the last five meetings, the Friulians have won twice, while the Sardinians have won once. Two games ended in a draw. The last encounter in May 2025 ended in a 2-1 away win for Udinese. It is noteworthy that Udinese remained unbeaten in the three most recent league matches. In October 2024, they won 2-0 at home, following a 1-1 draw in February 2024. Cagliari’s only victory came in November 2023 in the cup, winning 2-1 after extra time. A pattern emerges in the first half: three of the last five encounters were goalless at half-time. There were also few goals in the second half. This series of low-scoring first halves could prove to be the key to the upcoming match, as both teams often need time to find their rhythm.
