Venezia under Davide Nicola have become a deep, low-event side that creates shots but hardly scores. Udinese arrive with a new coach in his first week, a patched back three and a thin away attack. Both teams' finishing is the weakest part of this match. The more likely shape is a game where only one side gets on the scoresheet, if either does.
In Nicola's four Serie A games, Venezia beat Napoli 1-0 and then lost by one goal at Genoa, to Inter and at Como. That's one goal scored in four games, and all four finished with fewer than three goals. At Genoa they had 19 shots and scored none. Against Napoli they had 29 percent of the ball, and Stankovic made nine saves. Only one open-play goal has beaten him in those four games.
Udinese have failed to score in three of their last five. They had 20 shots at Parma and came away with nothing. Their best attacking group is Zaniolo, Davis and Ekkelenkamp, but the away output has been thin, and a coach in his debut week usually starts by keeping things compact.
The real worry is the Udinese back line. Alaba and Zanoli are out, Solet is doubtful, and Okoye has conceded seven goals from 18 shots on target in his last three games. Venezia's best route is Adams and Yeboah fed by Kike Perez's crosses. But Udinese's leaky games came against Roma, Milan and Lecce, which are far sharper attacks than this Venezia side.
I expect a quiet first half, since Venezia produce almost nothing before the break under Nicola. Whoever scores first is likely to sit on the lead. That's why I'm siding with one of these two attacks drawing a blank.
