Udinese host third-place Roma on Sunday at the Stadio Fruli in Serie A.
The Giallorossi are looking to regroup following their 4-0 aggregate defeat to Real Madrid in the Champions League with a victory over the Zebrette to maintain their third place spot in the table, as well as to extend their seven game winning streak in the league.
Udinese currently sits in 16th place; just two spots clear of the regulation zone, and have struggled as of late, taking only four points from their last five matches.
Stefano Colantuono’s side recently fell 2-0 to Frosinone, who currently are in the regulation zone. They also suffered at the hands of Genoa and Bologna while a 1-1 draw with AC Milan and their 2-0 win over Hellas Verona represent the only points they have claimed recently.
Roma sit in third, just five points off from second place Napoli, and three points clear of Fiorentina. Following their exit from Europe, the Giallorossi will look to maintain their current position in the hopes of returning to the Champions League next season.
Luciano Spalletti’s side took full points from their last five league matches, having earned victories over Fiorentina, Empoli, Palermo, Capri, and Sampdoria.
The two sides have previously met 47 times with Roma getting the better of these encounters, having won 23, drawing ten and losing only 14 times at the hands of their opponents.
Roma hosted the Zebrette in October and won a resounding 3-1 victory, where Miralem Pjanic started the action in just the fourth minute of play with Maicon and Gervinho also finding the net before Cyril Thereau managed to grab one back for the visiting side.
The hosts will be missing four players for this fixture as Alexander Merkel, Molla Wague, and Guilherme will all be out with injuries and midfielder Ivan Piris will be serving a yellow card suspension.
Roma will be without several injured players including Norbert Gyomber, and Antonio Rudiger. Ezequiel Ponce’s season ended with a torn ligament in his knee.
Despite the apparent reconciliation between Roma coach Luciano Spalletti and star striker, Francesco Totti, the club legend is not expected to start.
Form Guide
Udinese (L-W-L-L-D), Roma (W-W-W-W-W)
Expected Starting Xis
Udinese: Karnezis, Heurtaux, Danilo, Felipe, Armero, Badu, Kuzmanovic, Hallfredsson, Fernandes, Di Natale, Thereau.
Roma: Szczesny, Florenzi, Manolas, Zukanovic, Digne, Pjanic, Keita, Nainggolan, Perotti, Salah, El Shaarway.
