Pescara vs Udinese preview - Bergodi's a believer

Pescara head coach Cristiano Bergodi has compared the Serie A season to a 90-minute match and believes his side can score a last-gasp winner to secure survival.

The Delfini are five points from safety having lost six games from their last seven, but Bergodi feels his players have what it takes to get a positive result against Udinese.

Following a 2-0 defeat at Lazio, where Bergodi spent seven years as a player, he told La Repubblica: "I spent a lot of great years here and I have amazing memories, for which I thank the Lazio fans.

"But now I am thinking only about Pescara and I want to get the most out of the players in order to win a battle against relegation which we still stand a good chance of winning.

"Just as there are some games from which you can still rescue a point right until the very end, I'm convinced we will be right in the mix until the very end."

The injured trio of striker Ferdinando Sforzini and midfielders Eugenio Togni and Juan Quintero miss out as Udinese come to town, with Pescara hoping to avenge October's 1-0 defeat at the Stadio Friuli.

Bianconeri boss Francesco Guidolin, meanwhile, continues to heap praise on his young side, who are battling hard for a Europa League place among clubs with more experienced starting XIs.

Guidolin was happy to take a point from a goalless draw with Napoli last time out and said: "The draw was a fair result and we deserved it.

"I'm absolutely delighted with my players' efforts, especially considering we have four midfielders who are in their early 20s. I don't know any other side in Italy or Europe with such a young set-up.

"We had a team in front of us that has ambitions to beat Juventus this week and we played a great game, but we can still improve."

Defender Gabriele Angella serves a one-match ban with goalkeeper Zeljko Brkic accompanying Giampiero Pinzi, Andrea Lazzari and Mehdi Benatia on the treatment table.

Udinese are likely to remain in ninth place whatever happens, with Roma holding a three-point advantage and superior goal difference, while both Parma and Sampdoria trail the Friulian club by five points.