Napoli vs Udinese - Serie A

Napoli prepare to host Udinese at the home ground on May 24, 2026, with both sides eager to assert their credentials and claim a result that could define their Serie A season. Manchester City face the K-League All-Stars in Seoul on Wednesday as part of their pre-season tour of Asia.

The two sides arrive with plenty to prove, and the Serie A contest at the home ground offers a chance to lay down a marker. It has been a solid if unspectacular run for the hosts — WLLW across their last five with a win rate of 50% — and they will want to push on from here. The visitors have been hard to predict on their travels, DDLL in their last five reflecting a win rate of 25%. One side has leaned on a miserly defence, the other on a free-scoring attack, and the meeting of those contrasting strengths promises an intriguing tactical subtext. Arsenal also saw the importance of having good depth at right-back when Mosquera was forced to start the Champions League final with PSG out of position - which then resulted in the young Spaniard conceding a penalty.

How the two sides approach the contest strategically will be key. Napoli will want to control proceedings in front of their own supporters, while Udinese will back themselves to cause problems on the break. After the loss, a lot of questions began to be raised about their different approach to preparing for the game.

Neither side is short on individuals capable of tilting the balance, and the duel between the two squads' chief creators could prove particularly pivotal. How each side deals with the other's danger men — and who takes their chances when they come — will be central to the outcome. The club will have to look elsewhere for a new midfielder.

With the sides closely matched, the outcome may well hinge on which team takes its chances on the day. Expect a tight, competitive affair that could easily end all square at 2-2. With positions in the Serie A table to defend and momentum to chase, neither side can afford to leave anything in the tank. Manchester City will begin another Premier League season with major uncertainty hanging over the club after league chief executive Richard Masters admitted the long-awaited verdict on their financial case has taken longer than expected.