Serie A Preview: Bari - Udinese

Both teams had their respective last league fixtures of 2009 postponed and would be looking to start the New Year with a bang.....

Jan 5, 2010 1:45:00 PM

More On :  Bari, Udinese, Bari vs Udinese
Paulo Barreto, Riccardo Meggiorini - Bari-Juventus - Serie A (Getty Images)
Kick-off: Wednesday, January 6, 2010, 15:00 CET.
Stadio San Nicola, Bari. 

Picking Up The Thread

Bari have had a scintillating first half of the season in the Italian top flight. Their ninth place with 24 points in the Serie A standings becomes even more impressive when one considers that their game against Genoa on Week 17 was postponed because of bad weather.

In the first half of the 2009-2010 season, the Galletti defeated Lazio at home, drew with Inter, Milan and Sampdoria and also shocked Juventus 3-1 at the San Nicola. Their giants-slaying acts have been as much refreshing as indicative of the depth and unpredictability of the Italian game.

Giampiero Ventura's side start the New Year with a home clash with Udinese and it would be interesting to see how the Galletti start 2010. Bari's home record has been quite impressive so far as they have won five and lost just once at the San Nicola.

The Struggle Resumes

At the start of the season Udinese were expected to challenge for a top six place in Serie A but 18 points from 16 matches have rendered them 14th in the standings, just five points above the relegation zone. Things could have gone either good or bad had their last league fixture of 2009 against Cagliari at the Stadio Friuli gone ahead.

The Bianconeri have won just one of their last six Serie A games and are of one of only two sides in the league yet to register an away victory this campaign.

A defeat in Bari could leave them closer to the drop and the Udine-based side are desperate to gather maximum points at the start of the New Year. It isn't going to be easy, though, as Bari have a very strong home record. Moreover, a number of the Udinese players have been linked with moves out of the club, so things look shaky at the moment.


FORM GUIDE

Bari

December 12 v Juventus (H) - WON 3-1 (Serie A)

December 6 v Napoli (A) - LOST 3-2 (Serie A)

November 29 v Siena (H) - WON 2-1 (Serie A)

November 22 v Roma (A) LOST 3-1 (Serie A)  

November 8 v Livorno (H) WON 1-0 (Serie A)

Udinese

December 13 v Siena (A) - LOST 2-1 (Serie A)

December 6 v Bologna (A) - LOST 2-1 (Serie A)

November 28 v Livorno (H) – WON 2-0 (Serie A)

November 22 v Juventus (A) – LOST 1-0 (Serie A)

November 08 v Fiorentina (H) – LOST 0-1 (Serie A)


TEAM NEWS

Bari

Mariano Donda, Salvatore Masiello, Vitali Kutuzov, Cristian Stellini and Ferdinando Sforzini all are injured at the moment and so cannot feature in this fixture. Souleymane Diamoutene too is unavailable as he has African Cup of Nations commitment with Mali.

Probable Lineup (4-4-2): Gillet, A. Masiello, Ranocchia, Bonucci, Parisi; Alvarez, Donati, Almiron, Rivas; Meggiorini, Barreto

Udinese

Christian Obodo, Giovanni Pasquale and Niki Zimling are out of the clash with Bari due to injuries while Kwadwo Asamoah is not available because of African Cup of Nations commitment with Ghana. Antonio Di Natale is suspended and there are injury doubts over Simone Pepe, Maurizio Domizzi and Gokhan Inler.

Probable Lineup (4-4-2): Handanovic, Basta, Coda, Zapata, Lukovic; Lodi, Inler, D'Agostino, Pepe; Sanchez, Floro Flores


PLAYERS TO WATCH

Andrea Ranocchia (Bari)

Along with Leonardo Bonucci, the 21-year-old has been one of the best players for Bari so far this campaign. Ranocchia has been a rock at the heart of the Bari backline and has been responsible for Bari's excellent defensive record in the league. He would again have to be at the top of his game on Wednesday.

Gokhan Inler (Udinese)

The Swiss international midfielder hasn't had the best of first halves of the season but he would be needed by Udinese on Wednesday. Inler has been linked with moves to bigger clubs both in Italy and abroad and it is high time that the 25-year-old starts producing. He will be a key player in the midfield for Udinese on Wednesday and it will be interesting to see how he starts the New Year.


PREDICTION

Bari have a great track record defensively and it is difficult to see them lose at home to a Udinese side that are struggling near the relegation zone. Moreover, with no Antonio Di Natale, the visitors wouldn't be very threatening in front of goal. A draw isn't entirely out of the picture but Bari should nick it in the end.

Bari 2-0 Udinese

Subhankar Mondal, Goal.com
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