Roma looks to rebound after a slight stumble before the international break as they welcome Serie A strugglers Udinese on Sunday evening at the Stadio Olimpico.
Following a goalless derby draw with Lazio and a defeat in the Europa League against Slavia Prague, Jose Mourinho’s Giallorossi aims for a decisive victory this weekend.
Match Preview
A scoreless draw in the Derby della Capitale left Roma in seventh place in Serie A before the international break.
Despite their inability to score, Rui Patricio’s crucial saves ensured a clean sheet in the stalemate against Lazio.
After a promising start propelled by Romelu Lukaku, Roma has faced scoring issues in two of their last three league matches.
Their recent Europa League match against Slavia Prague also ended goalless, raising concerns about their offensive prowess.
Though Mourinho’s team displayed late heroics in previous matches, their inconsistency has left them outside the top four.
A win against Udinese is essential for Roma, considering their history of success against the Bianconeri.
Udinese, despite a challenging start to the season, showed glimpses of resurgence by grabbing four points from games against AC Milan and Atalanta.
The team’s ability to secure points against top sides has helped them rise from the relegation zone.
The Fruilani have struggled to find the back of the net but have remained resolute defensively.
Under current coach Gabriele Cioffi, Udinese is unbeaten in their last seven away games, aiming to extend this streak against Roma.
Team News
For Roma, the injured list has reduced with only Chris Smalling, Tammy Abraham, and Marash Kumbulla set to miss the upcoming fixture.
Paulo Dybala and Leandro Paredes are expected to play a crucial role against Udinese.
Udinese, missing key players such as Gerard Deulofeu, Kingsley Ehizibue, Enzo Ebosse, and Brenner due to injuries, might face a selection challenge.
Christian Kabasele returns from suspension, adding depth to the squad.
Possible Lineups
Roma possible starting lineup:
Patricio;
Mancini, Llorente, Ndicka;
Karsdorp, Bove, Cristante, Pellegrini, Spinazzola;
Dybala, Lukaku
Udinese possible starting lineup:(3-5-1-1)
Silvestri;
Kabasele, Bijol, Perez;
Ebosele, Samardzic, Walace, Lovric, Zemura;
Pereyra;
Success
Prediction: Roma 1-0 Udinese
Expect Roma to secure a victory at home against Udinese, capitalizing on their defensive resilience. Udinese’s inability to threaten Roma’s defense might result in a narrow win for the Giallorossi.