Udinese host Lecce at the Dacia Arena on 18 October 2026 in a Serie A fixture that matters more than the matchday number might suggest, with both sides sitting in the lower half of the table after six games. Udinese are 15th with four points while Lecce are 13th with six and both clubs arrive needing a result - Udinese for their first home league win of the campaign after four straight defeats, Lecce to halt their own ragged run and take points away from home.
Kosta Runjaic, appointed at Udinese on 1 July 2024, faces Eusebio Di Francesco, who took charge of Lecce on 26 June 2025 on a deal running until 2028, in what will be their fifth meeting as opposing coaches - previous encounters finishing level overall.
Udinese arrive on the back of a 2-1 defeat at Torino on 12 October 2026 that completed four straight Serie A losses, their form reading L-L-L-L-D. Lecce are no better off, losing 2-1 at home to Bologna on 11 October 2026 with a sequence of L-L-W-L-L, with both sides having struggled to convert chances and been caught out from set pieces and quick breaks.
Udinese are dealing with a lengthy injury list, with Nicolo Zaniolo, Vakoun Bayo, Idrissa Gueye and Jakub Piotrowski all out while James Abankwah and Alessandro Zanoli are doubts. Runjaic will lean on David Alaba, Hassane Kamara and Mergim Vojvoda in defence, with Jesper Karlstrom and Giorgi Chakvetadze in midfield and Jurgen Ekkelenkamp leading the attack. Given how porous Udinese have looked in recent weeks, Alaba's arrival at the back feels like the most important team news of the lot.
Lecce are also short on bodies, with Ivan Ilic ruled out by a thigh injury and Nikola Stulic a doubt with muscle problems. Geubbels, Fatah and Pierotti start in attack with Coulibaly behind them in midfield, while the defensive pairing of Siebert and Gabriel completes Di Francesco's likely 4-3-3.
Udinese typically set up in a 3-4-2-1, with Chakvetadze operating as the deeper of the two attacking midfielders behind Ekkelenkamp. Alaba's inclusion gives the back three a composure it has lacked through the losing run, though the absences of Zaniolo and Bayo leave Ekkelenkamp isolated as the only genuine attacking option - which is a lot to ask against a low block. Lecce will look to frustrate and release Geubbels and Fatah in behind, with Coulibaly sitting in front of the back four and the forward line waiting to punish any gaps left by a high Udinese line.
The midfield contest between Karlstrom and Coulibaly should shape the tempo and if Udinese can control it they have the tools to find Ekkelenkamp in behind. The most interesting individual match up is Alaba against Geubbels, where the Austrian's experience and positional authority could effectively nullify Geubbels and leave Di Francesco's counter attacking plan short of its main runner.
Udinese hold a clear historical edge with 28 wins to Lecce's 19 across around 54 meetings, including 19 wins from 28 at the Dacia Arena. Recent Serie A clashes have been tighter, with Lecce winning 2-1 in February 2026 before Udinese hit back with a 3-2 in October 2025 and a 1-0 in February 2025 and Udinese are unbeaten in their last four home league meetings against this opponent.
Lecce have caused problems from set pieces this season, so Udinese will need to stay alert to deliveries into the box, particularly with Alaba tasked with organising a defensive line he has not yet worked in. Runjaic's side cannot afford the lapses in concentration that have cost them in each of their four recent defeats, because Geubbels' acceleration will give an exposed Udinese backline serious trouble if they push too high.
Udinese's historical home dominance over Lecce, combined with Alaba's organisation of a back three that has shipped goals without him, is enough to tip this. Karlstrom and Chakvetadze should control the middle and Ekkelenkamp's movement in behind Lecce's defensive line is the likeliest source of a goal in a game that will not produce many. Lecce's attacking variety is significantly blunted by the loss of Ilic and the doubt over Stulic. Geubbels can still hurt Udinese on the break, particularly if Stulic is fit enough to start alongside him but Udinese need points at home and have not lost one of these in four attempts here. A late second goal after Lecce pull one back seals it - Udinese 2-1 Lecce.
Ryan Baldi
Football Writer
Ryan Baldi is a professional football writer with years of experience and has been featured by respected outlets such as the BBC, The Guardian, Sky Sports, DAZN, FourFourTwo, ESPN, Yahoo Sport and Football365. He has also written several books including Arsène Who?.
