Key Facts
- Verona is 19th with 14 points (level on points with Pisa, three behind Fiorentina), while Udinese is 10th with 26 points and only a narrow cushion above the relegation zone.
- Verona has been waiting for a win for five league games, scoring only four goals in the process; after a decent start, they often lose control after the break.
- The hosts’ defensive crisis, with Bella Kotchap, Valentini, Frese, and Belghali out and Giovane sold, noticeably limits their rotation and offensive punch.
- Udinese have conceded a goal in each of their last five league games, but are traveling without Piotrowski, Zaniolo, and Buksa, which is why Atta is expected to provide creative support behind Davis.
- Verona are unbeaten in five league games against Udinese, with four of those games seeing under 2.5 goals scored. Accordingly, the away win at 2.8 seems high, and under 2.5 and ‘BTTS: No’ are supported.
Serie A concludes Matchday 22 on Monday, January 26, when Verona hosts Udinese at the Stadio Marcantonio Bentegodi. Paolo Zanetti’s team will face Kosta Runjaić’s side in what locals call the Derby del Triveneto, a fixture that is usually decided by small details rather than spectacular moments. Verona are 19th in the table with 14 points and a goal difference of minus 17, and their recent league results do not always reflect the urgency of a relegation battle, even if the 0-0 draw at Cremonese showed more commitment. Udinese are in 10th place with 26 points, three points behind Lazio and one point ahead of Cagliari – a return to mid-table that feels appropriate so far, even if their performances fluctuate from week to week. The last meeting in August ended 1-1 in Udine, and Verona are unbeaten in their last five league games against Udinese – a run characterized by tight first halves and few goals overall. Verona need to regroup after the sale of Giovane to Napoli, while injuries mean Suslov and others are missing; Udinese travel without Piotrowski and Zaniolo.
- Venue: Stadio Marcantonio Bentegodi, Verona
- Date and time: January 26, 2026, 8:45 p.m.
- Competition: Serie A (Matchday 22)
With the market almost evenly split, the away win at 2.8 seems a little overpriced: Verona are 19th in the table, coming off a 0-0 draw at Cremonese and still having to patch up a defense weakened by the absences of Bella Kotchap and Valentini, while Giovane has already moved to Napoli. Even without Piotrowski, Udinese can rely on Atta behind Davis, which is an additional factor in favor of under 2.5 and both teams scoring.
Verona form & record check
Verona comes into this game without a win in five league games, a run that includes a 0-3 loss to Torino, a 2-2 draw at Napoli, 0-1 against Lazio, 2-3 against Bologna, and 0-0 at Cremonese. The points were earned through resistance rather than control, and too often they start well but then lose their way after the break, putting pressure on the defense and leaving them chasing the game instead of dictating the pace themselves. Conceding goals has been the norm, with goals conceded in four of the five games, which is why the clean sheet in Cremona was important. Even a goal in the second half was disallowed for offside. Zanetti’s team defended tightly, letting Nelsson push forward while Serdar and Niasse provided cover. The problem remains moving forward and creating chances. Sarr and Mosquera run the channels, but the crosses into the box are sporadic. Verona are 19th in the table with 14 points, level with Pisa and only three behind Fiorentina, so there is still room for improvement. The injury list doesn’t help much, with Bella Kotchap, Valentini, Frese, and Belghali missing in defense and Suslov out long term. At the Bentegodi, they need cleaner game management, because a small wobble can quickly tip the balance in a game.
Zanetti is likely to stick with Verona’s usual 3-4-2-1 formation, with Montipò in goal. The predicted back three consists of Slotsager, Nelsson, and Ebosse, while Lirola and Bradarić should provide width as wingbacks. In midfield, Gagliardini and Bernede appear to be the most likely pairing, with Serdar and Kastanos supporting Sarr in attack. With Bella Kotchap, Valentini, Frese, and Belghali all out, the defensive options seem fairly set, even if that limits rotation and heading options. Suslov remains out long term, and Al Musrati is also missing, so the creative burden could fall heavily on Serdar and Kastanos between the lines. Should Verona need more punch later on, Niasse is a plausible option off the bench.
Udinese Calcio Form & Record Check
Udinese comes to the Bentegodi in 10th place with 26 points, three behind Lazio and only one point ahead of Cagliari, so their cushion in mid-table is slim. Their recent run in Serie A has been inconsistent, and one statistic stands out: they have conceded in each of their last five league games. Interestingly, the first halves have often been quiet, with four of those five games seeing fewer than 1.5 goals before the break. The 0-1 home defeat to Inter was respectable in terms of attitude, but they were too passive after falling behind, clear chances were few and far between, and their build-up play slowed down whenever Inter pressed. A week earlier, the 2-2 draw with Pisa showed more personality, but their defensive phases were messy and they struggled to defend leads. These two games summed up the issue: decent structure, narrow margins. Away from home, they looked more aggressive, with the 2-1 win in Turin coming from sharper transitions and real conviction in the penalty area, while the 0-1 defeat in Como was a game they let slip. The earlier 1-1 draw with Lazio suggested balance, but Runjaić has to make changes with Piotrowski out and Zaniolo and Buksa unavailable, so Atta will likely take over the creative role behind Davis.
Runjaić is expected to stick with his usual 3-5-1-1 formation, with Okoye starting behind a back three of Kristensen, Kabasele, and Solet. Zanoli and Kamara should provide width, while Miller, Karlström, and Ekkelenkamp will shape the central areas. According to this assessment, Atta will act as a link, drifting between the lines to feed Davis as the lone striker. In terms of availability, Piotrowski remains sidelined with a knee injury, Zaniolo is also unavailable after undergoing arthroscopy, and Buksa is listed as unavailable, so the bench options are likely to focus on rotations in midfield and on the wings. If Runjaić wants fresher legs or more control, Zarraga, Lovrić, or Camara appear to be the most likely alternatives, but the Atta-Davis axis should remain intact.
Verona – Udinese Calcio Head-to-Head Comparison & Statistics
In the last five meetings, Verona has remained unbeaten against Udinese five times in a row, with two wins and three draws. The most recent, in August 2025, ended 1-1 and followed a 1-0 away win for Verona in March 2025. Prior to that, there was a 0-0 draw in 2025, another Verona win 1-0 in 2024, and a wild 3-3 draw in 2023. Four of these five games remained under 2.5 goals, showing how often this duel ends in close decisions rather than open exchanges. Verona’s two wins both came with the same 1-0 scoreline, in March 2025 and 2024, while the three draws include two low-scoring stalemates and the outlier 3-3 from 2023. The common denominator is a slow start. Four of the five games were tied at halftime, and four also had fewer than 1.5 goals in the first half, so early dominance was rare. Interestingly, Verona did not lead at halftime in any of these five games, but still regularly got something out of them, often through goals after the break. Udinese’s problem in this small sample is not converting good chances into wins. They have no wins in the five games and have conceded goals in four of them, often after halftime. Verona, on the other hand, scored in four of the five games and tended to find their goals later on, which could be important again if the next meeting remains close at first.
