Udinese welcome title-chasing AS Roma to the Dacia Arena as both teams lock horns in Serie A round five.
Venue: Dacia Arena (Udine)
Key Statistics
Udinese have secured two clean sheets in their last two home league games.
The hosts have lost just one of their last six competitive games (W4, D1).
They have failed to score once in their last eleven competitive games.
AS Roma are unbeaten in their last seven competitive games (W5, D2).
They have kept three clean sheets in four league games this season.
Head to head
AS Roma have won seven of the last ten meetings between both sides in the league (D1, L2).
Latest performances in all competitions
Udinese: W-W-D-L-W
Roma: W-D-W-W-W
Udinese
Udinese will look to continue their unbeaten run when they welcome title-chasing Roma to Udine on Sunday.
The Bianconeri started the season with a 4-2 loss away to champions AC Milan, but bounced back immediately, picking up one draw, one loss and two wins.
The Bianconeri put in a spirited and dogged display against Fiorentina last time out. New signing Noberto Beto gave the home team the lead in the 17th minute and they somehow found the resolve to hang on to the lead and ensure that the visitors left without anything despite controlling the game for the larger part of 90 minutes.
The hosts currently occupy the ninth position in the league standings, and improving on their 12th placed finish last season must be one of the objectives given to new coach Andrea Sottil.
With two wins and seven points out of a possible 12 now in the bag, Andrea Sottil will be eager to have his boys make it three wins in a row and move into the top four with just three points separating them from first-placed Atalanta.
However, Udinese face an uphill task coming up against Jose Mourinho’s team who are yet to taste defeat this season.
With one win in their last five meetings, the Bianconeri have to do better than they’ve done in previous encounters if they are to hurt the European Champions.
Possible Udinese starting line-up
Marco Silvestri; Rodrigo Becao, Bram Nuytinck, Jaka Bijol; Roberto Pereyra,Sandi Lovric, Walace, Jean-Victor Makengo, Destiny Udogie; Gerard Deulofeu, Beto.
Injured: None
Doubtful: Leonardo Buta, Adam Masina.
Suspended: None
AS Roma
AS Roma have taken their ambitions a notch higher this season with Jose Mourinho tasked with returning the Italian giants to their glory days.
The Giallorossi will be looking to build on their fifth-placed finish last season as they seek a return to the Champions League, after missing out on previous seasons since 2018.
AS Roma brushed aside newcomers Monza last time out thanks to a brace from Argentine ace Paulo Dybala, who was brought in for free during the transfer window.
Despite coming into this encounter as the favourites and the most in-form team between the pair, Jose Mourinho’s boys will be wary of a stubborn side who certainly know how to play their football.
However, Roma remain the favourites in this encounter as they seek to stay one step ahead of the other Scudetto chasers.
Possible AS Roma starting line-up
Rui Patricio; Gianluca Mancini, Chris Smalling, Roger Ibanez; Rick Karsdorp, Lorenzo Pellegrini, Bryan Cristante, Nemanja Matić; Paulo Dybala, Leonardo Spinazzola; Tammy Abraham.
Injured: Nicolo Zaniolo, Georginio Wijnaldum, Ebrima Darboe, Ruben Providence, Stephen El Shaarawy
Doubtful: None
Suspended: None
Prediction
Udinese 1-2 Roma
