The Italian Serie A battle for European football is neck-and-neck, with only six points separating fourth-place Lazio and eighth-place Udinese. Andrea Sottil’s Udinese, which has emerged as a wild card in the fight for European football places, is one of the clubs that has begun the season strongly. They have won six, drawn six, and lost three games due to their strong offensive output. Udinese, led by Andrea Sottil, has scored 24 goals in Serie A this season, placing them joint-fifth in the league for goals scored. This start to the season has strengthened their expectations of playing football in Europe next season. We will now look at stats demonstrating why Udinese has a solid chance of participating in Europe next season.
How has Udinese performed so far this season?
Udinese haven’t won a Serie A game in seven games, drawing five and losing two. In 15 Serie A games this season, Andrea Sottil’s side has scored 24 goals and allowed 17. The chart above depicts the team’s percentile position in offensive, defensive, and possession data compared to other Serie A clubs in Italy. Udinese are ranked above average in offensive numbers, particularly shots per 90 minutes and goals per 90 minutes. They are also ranked well in key passes per 90 and press success percentage, indicating a solid start. Another stat in which they have excelled is xG per 90.
Impressive attacking display
Udinese have 24 goals and average 1.6 goals per game. The image above represents the team’s shot map for the current season. Udinese players have outperformed their xG this season. The majority of Udinese goals have come from within the box. Andrea Sottil’s men score 2.1 goals per 90 minutes and have a 0.12 xG per shot. On average, Udinese players create 1.70 xG per match. The xG is relatively high since Udinese players have taken most of their shots from the danger zone within the 18-yard box. Udinese players take 15.07 shots per match on average. Udinese players have an 11% shot-conversion percentage.
Beto has six goals and 1.4 shots per game for Udinese this season in the Italian Serie A. In addition, the player averages 0.7 shots on target per game. The above graphic depicts the shooting map of a forward in the Italian Serie A. The Portuguese have also outperformed his xG thus far, scoring six goals on an xG of only 3.67. He is the leading goal scorer for Udinese in Serie A this season. Beto has a non-penalty xG of 0.55 per match and hits a total of 2.73 shots per 90.
Sturdy Defence
Udinese’s defenders have put their bodies on the line and blocked 42 shots. These blocks have been crucial and were made inside their 18-yard box. One of the players who has been consistent at the back is their Italian defender, Destiny Udogie. He has made 2.6 tackles per game, 0.5 clearances per game, 1.2 interceptions per game, scored two goals and provided one assist this season in 11 appearances. This shows the players’ assurance and commitment to the Udinese side.
Udinese has the fifth-best defensive duels win % in Serie A this season. The graphic above depicts the team’s percentile position in defensive duels won in comparison to other Serie A clubs. Udinese players win 57% of their defensive duels on average. Walace, the veteran Brazilian midfielder, has won 68 duels this season, leading the Udinese club.
Udinese currently has the fourth-best aerial duels win % in Serie A. The figure above depicts the team’s percentile position in aerial duels won in comparison to other Serie A clubs. Udinese players win 53% of their aerial duels on average. Jaka Bijol leads the Udinese team in aerial duels with 37 wins this season.
Udinese’s Talisman Gerard Deulofeu
Gerard Deulofeu has always been an integral part of the Udinese team, scoring critical goals, providing assists, and creating goal-scoring possibilities. The Spaniard has already scored two goals and supplied six assists this season. Deulofeu has a respectable accuracy percentage of 80% this season, averaging 27.1 passes per 90 minutes. Deulofeu averages roughly 3.51 key passes per game and has six assists in Serie A this season, which is quite good for a forward. This season, the Spaniard has a non-penalty xG of 0.17 per 90 minutes, an xA of 0.46 per 90 minutes, and has produced 47 key passes. Deulofeu dribbles 2.84 times every 90 minutes on average.
Udinese have been a hit-or-miss team in Serie A this season. Udinese’s attack has been crucial to their strong start to the season; they currently lie in eighth place in Serie A, three points clear of ninth-placed Torino. Jaka Bijol and Destiny Udogie head Udinese’s defence, while Walace leads the midfield and Gerard Deulofeu and Beto direct the assault. Andrea Sottil will hope these players maintain their form after the World Cup and help them qualify for European competition next season.
Visuals via TFA data viz engine
