Fabio Capello has expressed concerns about Antonio Conte's teams struggling in the Champions League. Despite Napoli's strong performance in Serie A, where they are tied on points with AC Milan, their European form is lacking. A recent 2-0 loss to Jose Mourinho's Benfica has left them 23rd in the standings, putting their play-off hopes in jeopardy.
Conte has managed 50 Champions League matches but has only secured 17 victories, the lowest among eight Italian coaches who have reached this milestone. Capello told Gazzetta, "Maybe Conte isn't able to transmit that calmness and strength to the players the way he does in the league. " He believes it's a psychological issue, suggesting that success in European competitions requires confidence and boldness.
Napoli aims to keep pace with Milan while Udinese sits 11th in Serie A, six points from the top six and eight above relegation. Napoli has lost five of seven away games under Conte, including all three this season. However, they recently won against Roma without conceding and seek consecutive away wins with clean sheets for the first time since May.
For Udinese, Jurgen Ekkelenkamp is noteworthy. His first Serie A goal came against Napoli last February. Despite playing 578 minutes this season, he hasn't scored yet and has only attempted six shots. Meanwhile, Rasmus Hojlund is crucial for Napoli. He scored twice in their recent 2-1 victory over Juventus.
Napoli remains unbeaten against Udinese in their last 18 Serie A encounters (14 wins and four draws). Their longest unbeaten streaks are against Cesena (26) and Roma (19). Udinese's last win over Napoli was a 3-1 victory on April 3, 2016. In their past six meetings, Napoli won three and drew three.
Napoli is predicted to win based on their recent form and historical dominance over Udinese. Since November's international break, they've allowed the fewest shots on target in Serie A (seven) and have the lowest expected goals against value (1.59). Conversely, Udinese has struggled at home against top-two sides.
The Opta win probability suggests a 49.6% chance for Napoli to triumph over Udinese's 23.6%, with a draw at 26.8%. Both teams have scored in five of their last six meetings at Udinese's ground, indicating a potentially competitive match ahead.
5 - #Napoli have lost five consecutive away games for the first time in their history in the UEFA Champions League/European Cup. Fatigue.#UCL #BenficaNapoli OptaPaolo (@OptaPaolo) December 10, 2025
As both teams prepare for their upcoming clash, all eyes will be on how Conte's Napoli performs under pressure. The outcome could significantly impact their standing both domestically and internationally as they strive for consistency across competitions.
