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In the week, Roma have decided to part company with club legend Daniele De Rossi after a disappointing start to the season and some underwhelming form at the back end of last year. They face the team leading the league ahead of the weekend, Udinese.
KICK-OFF DATE/TIME: Sunday 22nd September, 2024 - UK – 5:00pm / US ET – 12:00pm / US PT – 9:00am
HOW TO WATCH ON TV: UK – TNT Sports OR Not televised / US – Select matches will be televised on CBS Sports so it is worth checking their schedule
HOW TO WATCH ONLINE: UK – discovery+ OR Cannot be streamed / US – Paramount+
ROMA PREVIEW: GIALLOROSSI ON THE RISE
Following on from a 1-1 draw in Genoa last weekend, Roma took the decision to sack manager Daniele De Rossi with the way the ownership have handled the decision coming under intense scrutiny from the supporters and media. It has, though, been a poor spell for the Romans as he became found out tactically.
The Giallorossi will hope that the replacement of De Rossi will lead to Roma rising back up the table but it will need to take some turnaround as they have started this season without a victory in their opening four matches. They have drawn against Genoa, Juventus and Cagliari with a loss to Empoli at the Stadio Olimpico.
UDINESE PREVIEW: FABULOUS FRIULIANS
Over the summer, Udinese’s ownership group, the Pozzo family, have turned their attention back to Udinese after the fall of Watford. The Friulians have been utterly magnificent throughout the start of this campaign and actually begin this weekend’s round of fixtures sitting at the top-of-the-table.
The visitors come into this one on the back of a thrilling 3-2 defeat of a newly-promoted and much-improved Parma in their most recent outing, last weekend. They were 2-0 down in that match but managed to turn the game on its head late on with a brace from former Newcastle United attacker Florian Thauvin.
ROMA TEAM NEWS: COUPLE OF INJURIES
Daniele De Rossi immediately swapped from a back three to a back four when he returned so it will be intriguing to see if there is a return to the back three or five this weekend.
The Romans are dealing with a couple of injury concerns for this week as Enzo Le Fee and Alexis Saelemaekers are both unavailable for this one as they face Udinese.
PREDICTED XI (4-3-3): Svilar; Celik, Mancini, Ndicka, Tasende; Kone, Cristante, Pisilli; Dybala, Dovbyk, Shomurodov
UNAVAILABLE: Le Fee (Injured), Saelemaekers (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE:
UDINESE TEAM NEWS: LIKELY STILL NO ALEXIS
After such a strong start to the season and with no fresh injury concerns or suspension issues for this one, it seems unlikely that Udinese will make any changes for this one.
Chile international Alexis Sanchez returned to Udinese this summer but he has yet to make his second debut for the club and he remains doubtful to be involved this week.
PREDICTED XI (5-3-2): Okoye; Ehizibue, Kristensen, Bijol, Giannetti, Kamara; Lovric, Karlstrom, Payero; Thauvin, Lucca
UNAVAILABLE:
QUESTIONABLE: Sanchez (Injured)
ROMA VS UDINESE PREDICTION
There is expected to be quite an entertaining clash at the Olimpico this weekend as Ivan Juric takes charge of his first game with the pressure very much on. His style of football can often be quite conservative with Torino managing to score just 36 goals last season. Udinese will likely be quite content with remaining unbeaten for their sixth game of the season as they challenge at the top end of the table so a low-scoring encounter may well be what to expect.
ROMA VS UDINESE TIP: UNDER 3.5 GOALS