Overview
Despite playing slightly better than AC Milan in the previous round, Roma could only accept a draw. This is their first draw in Serie A since April last year. However, that result is still enough for Gian Piero Gasperini's team to maintain the rhythm of pursuing the goal of returning to the Champions League after a long wait.
Of course, Roma still has a way around to participate in Europe's number one playground. That is to win the Europa League. This is also the path that Gasperini himself once went with Atalanta 2 years ago.
In the middle of the week, Roma is playing away at Panathinaikos stadium in the last round of the Europa League group stage with the goal of winning a direct ticket to the round of 16. Having secured a spot in the knockout round, Giallorossi only need one more point to maintain their position in the top 8, but that seemingly simple task becomes a real test.
The early red card for Gianluca Mancini forced Roma to play with one less player for most of the time. It was not until Jan Ziolkowski's late header that they managed to regain the draw, thereby avoiding the scenario of playing in the play-offs.
Before returning to the continental front in March, Roma must focus maximally on the top 4 Serie A race - where Juventus, Como and even Atalanta are formidable direct opponents.
Roma's biggest strength at this time is certainty, especially away from home. With only 13 goals conceded after 22 rounds, they belong to the group with the best defense in Italy. Even in the top 5 European leagues, no team conceded fewer away goals than Roma before the trip to the north against Udinese. Along with that is an impressive record when they won 9 and only lost 2 in the last 13 away trips.
Roma also has a head-to-head advantage. In the November meeting, Udinese lost 0-2 at the Olimpico, marking their sixth consecutive defeat to Roma. And notably, they have conceded at least 2 goals in each match in this series.
In the opposite direction, Udinese did not start the new year really explosively, but a 3-1 victory at Hellas Verona helped coach Kosta Runjaic's team rise to the top half of the rankings. After a tense first half, Udinese accelerated after the break. Alessandro Zanoli scored the opening goal, before Keinan Davis sealed the victory 9 minutes later.
Continuing to maintain stability like the first season under Runjaic, Udinese is currently in the middle of the table, too far from the group competing for European cup spots but also safe enough not to worry about relegation. The problem is that they must find a way to win 2 consecutive matches for the first time since September last year. This is not an easy task if you look at the unfavorable head-to-head record against Roma.
Personnel situation
Roma's injury list is shrinking in just the past few days. Key midfielder Manu Kone is determined to be out for about 3 weeks, while Paulo Dybala currently has a knee problem and is likely not to be able to participate.
Dybala will miss the opportunity to meet his favorite "prey" again. He and striker Artem Dovbyk are both expected to be absent, while Evan Ferguson and Stephan El Shaarawy are also leaving open the possibility of playing because their fitness is not guaranteed.
On Udinese's side, the attack is also weakened as Nicolo Zaniolo is sidelined due to a knee injury and is expected to return next week. In that context, Arthur Atta is likely to continue to support Keinan Davis.
This young talent has directly participated in 10 goals for Udinese in Serie A this season.
Expected lineup:
Okoye, Bertola, Kristensen, Solet, Ehizibue, Miller, Karlstrom, Ekkelenkamp, Zemura, Atta, Davis.
Svilar, Mancini, Ndicka, Ghilardi, Celik, Cristante, El Aynaoui, Wesley, Soule, Pellegrini, Malen.
The match between Udinese and Roma takes place at 2:45 am on February 3rd (Vietnam time).
