Serie A PREVIEW | Roma v Udinese

After suffering a defeat in the first leg of the Europa League quarter-final, Roma will aim to get back to winning ways when they face Udinese at the Stadio Olimpico today evening. 

Currently sitting in 3rd place, Roma hold a significant chance to qualify for the Champions League next season by finishing in the top four, a feat which they haven’t achieved since the 2017-18 season. 

A win today would see the Giallorossi close in to only five points of second placed Lazio who stretched their lead after beating Roma in the Derby della Capitale. Milan’s draw yesterday with Bologna made them go tied with the capital side on 53 points and it is now on the part of Jose Mourinho’s men to capitalise on their followers’ woes. 

The hosts will aim to get the three points in order to se their morales high up as they need to muster a comeback win against Feyenoord mid-week after they were beaten through Mats Wieffer’s goal last week.

Meanwhile, Udinese haven’t fared well in recent games since their 3-1 win against Milan in March.

The Udine-based side hold a masssive psychological edge against their opposition today as they have routed Roma earlier this season back in October. Spurs loanee Destiny Udogie opened the scoring and Sandi Lovric finished the drubbing at 4-0. 

Manager Andrea Sottil’s side have won just two of their eleven away Serie A games and have failed to net in four of their last seven. 

Results from their last five matches across all competitions

Roma:

L W W L D

Udinese:

D L W W D 

Team News

A host of changes are expected in the Roma side as they have a thick run of games to cover in the next few days. 

Ola Solbakken and Rick Karsdorp are sidelined for this match. Georginio Wijnaldum, Diego Llorente and Stephan El Shaarawy could start.

Star strikers Paulo Dybala and Tammy Abraham are both set to remain unavailable with a thigh and shoulder injury respectively. 

 As for Udinese, forward Beto reached the 10 goal mark for this season in his last game but is yet to score one in an away contest since October. 

Geard Deulofeu should again remain sidelined while captain Roberto Pereyra is expected to return from suspension.

Predicted XIs

Roma (3-4-2-1): Patricio; Mancini, Smalling, Llorente; Zalewski, Cristante, Matic, Spinazzola; Wijnaldum, El Shaarawy; Belotti

Udinese (3-5-2): Silvestri; Becao, Bijol, Perez; Ehizibue, Lovric, Walace, Pereyra, Udogie; Success, Beto

Trambak Bhattacherjee | GIFN