Italian Serie A preview: AS Roma – Udinese Calcio
Dramatic Roman turnaround
Gilarossi made a disastrous start to the latest Serie A season and were placed 19th in the League at one point in time. With just two points from opening four matches, many believed that Roman Scudetto challenge
was already over. However, fellow Scudetto contenders were having their own share of issues and continued to drop points. Such turn of events coupled with a Gilarossi revival has propelled Claudio Ranieri’s side to 6th in the League.
As things stand, Lupi have 19 points from 12 games; seven off the summit and just a single point behind 4th placed Juventus. Should Ranieri’s men register a victory tonight, they are likely to enter the Serie A
top four – a place where Lupi truly belong – for the first time this season.
Gilarossi are on a six game unbeaten run in all competitions and Ranieri will be confident of his side getting the three points especially since Romans have not lost at home this season
The Zebrette march continues
Following a dismal start to the season where Zebrette lost their opening four games, Francesco Guidolin’s side were expected to struggle for survival in a fiercely contested Serie A. However, much like the Romans, Udinese have managed
to turn around their season in breathtaking fashion.
With five victories from their last seven games, Zebrette are now on a hot streak. The likes of Di Natale and Alexis Sanchez are rediscovering the form that made them such sought after players. Di Natale in particular has been the linchpin
behind this revival; Toto is the top scorer for Udinese with five goals.
As things stand, Udinese are 8th in the league, just two points off Roma and within touching distance of a Europa league spot.
Team News
AS Roma
Daniele De Rossi suffered a thigh strain on International duty and will be out for some time. The Roman talisman will join the likes of Okaka Chuka, Rodrigo Taddei and Simone Perrotta on the treatment table. Mirko Vucinic and Francesco
Totti will lead the line with Jeremy Menez playing just behind them.
Udinese Calcio
Francesco Guidolin will have to do without the services of star defender Cristian Zapata, Dusan Basta and Damiano Ferronetti as the trio is out injured. Giovanni Pasquale is suspended for the game and will not travel to Rome. Guidolin
is likely to start Antonio Di Natale and Floro Flores in the attack with Alexis Sanchez playing the trequartista role.
Key Players
Mirko Vucinic
The French attacker is finally putting in the type of performances AS Roma paid top buck for. Vucinic’s pace and dribbling skills would be a lethal asset against a makeshift Zebrette defence. Vucinic will look to draw defenders before
releasing his teammates into space.
Antonio Di Natale
The talismanic skipper has regained the type of form that won him the Capocannoniere title in last year’s Serie A. No wonder Di Natale’s return to form has coincided with Zebrette climbing
up the Serie A ladder. Toto will look to breakdown a resilient Roman rearguard with his years of experience and sublime skill.
Prediction
Both the teams are in supreme form at this point in the season but Roma’s brilliant home form will come to their rescue. Gilarossi to edge out the encounter by a 2 – 1 score line!
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