Torino vs Udinese: Prediction, Betting Tips and Match Preview

Torino and Udinese, two Serie A stalwarts, meet in the final match of Matchday 6. The Friulians were a bogey side for the Granata last season, sweeping both league encounters 2-1 and 2-0. Now, however, the tactics board has a new occupant: Ignazio Abate, the freshly appointed Torino coach, goes head-to-head with Udinese's long-serving boss Kosta Runjaić.

Torino: Abate walking a tightrope

Abate's tenure began with a 2-1 victory over Fabio Grosso's struggling Fiorentina, but that remains his only genuine highlight. Since then, Torino have managed just a single point from four Serie A outings, and their underlying numbers paint an even bleaker picture: the Granata sit fifth from bottom in expected points. Even the 1-1 draw with Bologna required a howler from goalkeeper Lukasz Skorupski to avoid defeat. It is hardly surprising that club president Urbano Cairo may already be weighing another change on the bench.

The good news for the Piedmontese is a nearly fully fit squad, with reserve keeper Franco Israel the only notable absentee. Yet the recent international break has taken its toll: Torino players clocked 1,944 minutes for their national teams, a figure exceeded only by the squads of Milan (2,624), Atalanta (2,427), Inter (2,343), and Napoli (2,094). That extra fatigue could weigh heavily on the hosts at the Stadio Olimpico.

Udinese: refreshed and looking to bounce back

Udinese have been a permanent fixture in Italy's top flight since the last century, and this season they once again look the part of a battle-hardened mid-table side. They opened the campaign unbeaten in two, drawing 1-1 with Champions League-bound Como before beating Monza 3-2. Then came a trio of defeats to Lazio (1-2), Inter (3-5), and Cagliari (0-1) — setbacks largely attributed to a dip in physical sharpness. The unusually long international hiatus gave Runjaić precious time to work on conditioning, and a fresh Udinese side is expected to emerge in October.

For the trip to Turin, the visitors must cope without injured duo Nicolò Zaniolo and Idrissa Geyé, leaving the attacking burden on the trio of Unai Gomez, Jurgen Ekkelenkamp, and Keinan Davis. The biggest talking point, though, is Udinese's free-agent signing of David Alaba. The Austrian superstar defender, one of Europe's most decorated backline players, remains short of match fitness and will not start at the Olimpico.

Predicted Lineups

Torino (3-5-2):

• Perri
• Comuzzo, Coco, Kemert
• Belgali, Mandragora, Fitz-Jim, Vlasic, Cacciamani
• Adams, Simeone

Unavailable: Israel (injury), Fortini (doubtful) Coach: Ignazio Abate

Udinese (3-4-2-1):

• Okoye
• Abankwa, Kabasele, Sole
• Vojvoda, Miller, Carlstrom, Kamara
• Gomez, Ekkelenkamp
• Davis

Unavailable: Piotrowski, Geyé, Zaniolo (all injured) Coach: Kosta Runjaić

Referee

The man in the middle is Valerio Crezzini, a relatively inexperienced Serie A official with just 12 top-flight matches to his name. His average of three yellow cards per game suggests a lenient approach, and remarkably, he has never shown a red card at the highest level in his entire career.

Prediction and Bet

Both teams have plenty of problems, but Udinese appear better equipped to snap out of their mini-crisis. Runjaić has been in charge for years, and his side's results have always been tied to their ability to sustain high pressing — precisely the kind of work a three-week break allows. Even in a narrow, surprise loss to Cagliari (0-1), the Friulians generated 2.15 xG against 1.12, enough to have won rather than lost. Abate, meanwhile, has failed to install any confidence in Torino, who are yet to register a single home point under his management. The double chance on Udinese avoiding defeat is solid at 1.63, but bolder punters will be tempted by the outright away win at 3.26.

Still, the Granata should be able to find the net. Only Roma have kept them out in Serie A this season, and Udinese have conceded in every one of their last seven matches across all competitions, including a 1-1 friendly draw with Polish side Pogoń during the international break. A bet on both teams to score, priced at 1.83, also offers plenty of value.