THE stakes are high for Frosinone and Udinese on the final night of the Serie A season as they face off at the Stadio Benito Stirpe with both sides knowing a defeat could condemn them to relegation.
Third-bottom Empoli face a tough game at home to Roma but a win would be enough to send them above either of these sides so fans will be glued to their phones for updates on the score at Stadio Carlo Castellani.
Frosinone have a bit more wriggle room as they sit two points ahead of Empoli and are also two goals to the good. A draw would be enough to save their skins but Udinese sit just a point above the drop zone so the only result that would guarantee safety is a win.
Both teams are in decent form at the business end of the season, with Frosinone losing just one of their last eight games and Udinese unbeaten in four. So it promises to be a tight and tense 90 minutes, unless Roma grab a couple of early goals in the other game.
How the bookies view it: Home comfort for Frosinone
There's not much between these sides but the bookies reckon home advantage just gives Frosinone the edge. Bet365 price them at 11/8 with Udinese at 2/1 and the draw paying 9/4.
Recent head to head: Udinese just have the edge
It ended in a 0-0 draw when these sides faced off in Udine earlier in the season, so hopefully, this will be a better game. These sides have only faced off five times in competitive games and Udinese have the egde, with two wins to one.
Players to watch: Soule man in the groove
Juventus loanee Matias Soule has been a key man for Frosinone this term, netting 11 times. The young Argentinian is 7/4 to grab another goal and 10/11 to either score or assist.
Lasar Samardzic heads into this crunch game in high spirits after netting in each of his last two outings for Udinese. The Serbian forward looks overpriced at 7/2 for anytime scorer and he's 3/1 for over 1.5 shots on target.
Probable line-ups
Frosinone remain without defenders Sergio Kalaj and Anthony Oyono while keeper Stefano Turati is also injured.
Winger Isaac Success went off early for Udinese in their last game and the man who replaced him, Brenner, then had to be substituted himself. Both of them could join Gerard Deulofeu, Enzo Ebosse, Sandi Lovric, Florian Thauvin and Marco Silvestri on the sidelines.
Frosinone: Cerofolini, Okoli, Romagnoli, Lirola, Brescianini, Zortea, Valeri, Barrenechea, Soule, Harroui, Cheddira.
Udinese: Okoye, Perez, Bijol, Kristensen, Walace, Kamara, Ehizibue, Payero, Davis, Lucca, Samardzic.
Anything else catch the eye?
Udinese will probably play on the front foot as they won't want to rely on Empoli losing to stay up. So it could pay to back them at +2 in the corner handicap, with that bet paying 11/10 at Bet365. They are also 13/8 to win the first flag kick and that could be a decent option.
This should be a tight and tense game so betting against BTTS might pay off at evens, especially with the last game between these sides ending in a 0-0 draw. Backing under 2.5 goals also stands a chance at odds of 10/11.
The half-time draw is always a good option when there's so much at stake and that pays 6/5 here.
This Serie A match between Frosinone and Udinese will be played on May 26, 2024 and kick off at 19:45. Check below for our tipsters best Frosinone vs Udinese prediction. You may also visit our dedicated betting previews section for the most up to date previews.
