We agree that those who go slowly go far and well, as our grandparents told us, but to save themselves Udinese needs to place at least a couple of sharp players and tonight’s game in Verona seems like the ideal opportunity and venue. Because it is a direct clash (same points in the standings), because in the next round the Bianconeri are expected to travel to Bologna and because it could mean having less urgency to win the last three matchdays which Pereyra and his teammates will face in order Lecce (away), Empoli (home) and Frosinone (in Ciociaria).
SIMILITUDES
Two teams that have quite similar characteristics in their DNA face each other. Verona, like Udinese, loves to wait for the opponent and start again. And in fact it was precisely with the teams on the left side of the table that he offered his best performances. The Bianconeri haven’t even won a direct match yet but if they want to stay in Serie A, they will have to make a couple of the four they still have to play their own. Cioffi spoke on the eve of a «good game to play», as if he wanted to ease the nerves of a team that is unable to express itself continuously over the 90′ as confirmed by the three quarters of the match played against Roma.
CHOICES
Cioffi also lost Giannetti due to a muscular injury. It is to be hoped that Perez, Bijol and Kristensen don’t catch a cold and that they manage to stay away from suspensions otherwise even putting together a defensive package will be a problem. The Argentine seemed to be the only possible change compared to the lineup that faced Roma and instead, it seems to be understood that the starting eleven will be the same. Additionally, Brenner and Davis will be on the bench.
LAST MINUTE
Maximum concentration will be needed from the first to the last minute. Moreover, recent history says that the Triveneto derby was decided in injury time: in the first leg Henry scored the 3-3 in the 97th minute, last year at the Bentegodi Bijol scored the 2-1 with a header from a free kick from Samardzic when he was the 92nd minute struck.
