Prediction: Udinese vs Fiorentina

Verdict: Both teams to score

Best odds: 5/6

Bookmaker: Betfair

Fresh from narrowly avoiding European disaster, Fiorentina shift their focus back to a tense Serie A relegation fight on Monday evening as they travel to mid‑table Udinese.

While the Viola appear to be rediscovering some rhythm, their hosts arrive on a three‑match losing streak and in need of a response.

Udinese

Fiorentina’s resurgence was sparked by the teams’ previous meeting—a remarkable 5–1 victory in December, when Udinese were reduced to 10 men just seven minutes into the contest. That result was one of several recent setbacks against the Viola: Monday’s hosts have been beaten in three of their last four home league games against Fiorentina, matching their total number of defeats in the previous 18 such encounters.

Current form offers little reassurance either. Back‑to‑back wins over Hellas Verona and Roma had briefly elevated Kosta Runjaic’s side into the top half of the table, but momentum has collapsed since. Udinese have now lost three straight league fixtures: first to a late winner in Lecce, then in disappointing fashion at home to Sassuolo, and most recently a narrow 1–0 defeat to Bologna.

Their home record this season has been underwhelming—just four victories from 13 attempts, averaging only one goal per match. Even so, Runjaic has kept the Friuli club competitive overall, and they remain on track to achieve their target of mid‑table security.

Team News

Keinan Davis has returned from injury but is unlikely to start, leaving Nicolò Zaniolo as Udinese’s primary attacking threat. After a difficult loan spell at Fiorentina last season, Zaniolo has produced five league goals so far—one shy of his career‑best tally from 2020.

Defensively, Udinese remain depleted. Oumar Solet and long‑term absentee Alessandro Zanoli are out, while Hassane Kamara continues to struggle with plantar fasciitis and is a major doubt for Monday’s match.

Fiorentina

Fiorentina offered the perfect example of their chaotic season on Thursday night. After establishing a 3–0 lead in the first leg of their Conference League playoff, they astonishingly let the aggregate score slip away in Florence, only to edge past Jagiellonia Białystok in extra time.

Their impressive performance in Poland should have made the second leg comfortable, but the Viola suffered a full‑scale collapse before Nicolò Fagioli restored their advantage in the 107th minute. Both sides scored again late on as nerves frayed, but Fiorentina scraped through 5–4 on aggregate to set up a last‑16 tie with Raków Częstochowa.

Now, Paolo Vanoli must pivot back to Fiorentina’s primary concern: avoiding relegation. Since arriving in November, he has steadied the ship and dragged the team out of the drop zone, with last week’s 1–0 win over Pisa proving decisive. The Viola have earned 15 of their 24 league points in 2026—a significant turnaround—and have taken six points from their last three away matches.

After their recent victory in Como, Fiorentina could secure consecutive Serie A away wins for the first time since November 2024, providing another boost in their survival mission.

Team News

Having been forced through 120 draining minutes on Thursday, Vanoli is expected to rotate heavily. Three changes may be unavoidable: reserve goalkeeper Luca Lezzerini (thigh), full‑back Robin Gosens (facial injury) and winger Manor Solomon (muscle issue) all suffered setbacks during the European tie.

Dodô must also serve a league suspension. On the positive side, Albert Guðmundsson returned from injury as a late substitute against Jagiellonia and could now start, likely supporting Moise Kean up front.

Kean—who scored twice against Udinese earlier this season—has rediscovered his scoring touch, finding the net in each of his last three league appearances.

Conclusion

While Udinese appear to be coasting toward mid‑table safety, Fiorentina remain locked in a desperate six‑team scrap to avoid the final relegation position. Both sides struggle defensively, and the last four Serie A meetings between them have averaged 4.5 goals per game, suggesting another high‑scoring affair may be on the cards.

Given Fiorentina’s sharp uptick in form and Udinese’s recent slide, the visitors may view this as a prime opportunity to keep their revival moving—though goals at both ends seem almost certain.

Verdict: Both teams to score

Best odds: 5/6

Bookmaker: Betfair