Roma will be aiming to cling on to second position in the table when they host Udinese at the Stadio Olimpico on Sunday evening in Serie A.
Rudi Garcia’s side are one point ahead of city rivals Lazio and will be desperate for three points before the two teams face off next week in the penultimate game of their respective seasons.
After a promising start to the season which gave hope of a title challenge the capital side fell away badly and their total of thirteen draws has played a big part in them falling sixteen points behind champions Juventus.
Matching last season’s second place finish would be a respectable achievement if they can hold on to it however the Giallorossi supporters are growing restless at Juve’s continued dominance.
Udinese find themselves with little to play for at this stage as they currently sit in 14th position in the table with no danger of relegation and no hope of European qualification.
With four, five and six-game winless runs all too common this season, it’s no surprise the Zebrette have failed to push their way up the table.
One shining light has been the fourteen goals of veteran striker Antonio Di Natale and without the 37-year-old captain’s contribution they may have found themselves in deeper trouble.
In 45 previous meetings between the two sides Roma have won 24, Udinese have won 14 and 10 have ended in a draw.
The most recent meeting was in January when the Giallorossi came away from the Stadio Friuli with a 1-0 victory thanks to a goal from Davide Astori.
Garcia will be without the suspended Alessandro Florenzi and the injured Gervinho as well as long-term absentees Kevin Strootman, Maicon, and Leandro Castan.
Andrea Stramaccioni on the other hand is missing the injured Lucas Evangelista, Melker Hallberg and Molla Wague.
Form Guide: Roma (D-D-L-W-W-L), Udinese (L-D-W-L-W-L)
Expected Starting XIs
Roma: De Sanctis; Holebas, Astori, Manolas, Torosidis; Nainggolan, De Rossi, Pjanic; Ibarbo, Doumbia, Iturbe
Udinese: Karnezis; Piris, Domizzi, Danilo, Widmer; Badu, Pinzi, Allan, Kone; Di Natale, Thereau
