Udinese vs Roma: preview
We have the predictions for the Udinese vs Roma match in the context of the tenth round of Serie A for the 2026/27 season.
The disheartened Udinese will play at home against Roma. The former aim to break their winless streak, while the latter do not want to fall behind the Serie A leaders.
Key points
1. Seven matches without a win for Udinese: confidence does not lift spirits
The match against Parma (0:0) ended Udinese’s six‑game losing streak, but the draw at Ennio Tardini cannot be considered a positive point. Kostya Runkiya’s side is close to the relegation zone. The coach still receives confidence from the club, but the players are not inspired. Despite 20 shots on Parma’s goal, only a few were truly dangerous. We note that goalkeeper Maduka Okoye saved a penalty from the home side, becoming his team’s hero. If you can’t beat a Parma like that, what can you expect to get out of the crisis?
2. Džanolo played in the starting lineup, five players unavailable
Kostya Runkiya is practically short of players in every line. In defence, the partners of Umar Sole and David Alaba are missing, so the coach does not have an optimal defence. Midfielder Alessandro Zanoli and striker Vakuun Bayo will not return before the third fortnight of November, and the young striker Idrissa Guye and others later.
Special attention is paid to the match with Nicola Džanolo. He has spent many years at Roma, always promising. But he never managed a real career in the capital. Now Džanolo is the leader of Udinese’s attack, recently recovered from injury. Isn’t it time to remind himself in front of the ex?
3. Udinese is a rare source of surprises in matches against Roma
The “zebras” have serious defensive problems (a goalless match against the inert Parma does not count), the attack is at a level of an off‑side, and Friuli itself is not a strength (six matches without victories against their fans). The situation worsens with the rival and the history of encounters. In the second round, Udinese won at home against Roma (1:0), but that seems an exception. Before that, the Udinese lost to the Romans in six consecutive matches, conceding two goals per game. The current position seems to indicate that history could repeat itself.
1. Roma remains unbeaten, but almost loses the second consecutive match
The last Serie A matches were very tough for Gian Piero Gasperini’s side. The Romans lost at home to Napoli 0:2 and 2:3, but managed to come back and ruin Massimiliano Allegri’s morale. With Cagliari, the team at the Stadio Olimpico had a simple match, but instead of an easy win, they had to pull the class from the darkness: the decisive goals in 2:2 were scored in minutes 82 and 85. This shows character, but also the forces disappear. Before the encounter with the vulnerable Udinese, Manchester United and Sassuolo, before the international break.
2. Paulo Dybala under suspicion
With a tight schedule and injuries, Gian Piero Gasperini must rotate the squad. Miele Swilar remains off‑side, so the permanent goalkeeper is Pierluigi Gollini. In defence, Mario Ermoso and Daniele Gialdi can gain playing time. They will probably start, but will be limited by Brian Cristante, Marten de Roon, Wesley and Donell Malen. Rodrigo Mora and Matías Suárez will play from the first minutes in the 3‑4‑2‑1 formation. There is a possibility that Roma’s main playmaker, Paulo Dybala, will enter the lineup, but the real chance to play will be with Manchester United.
3. Increase in Roma’s effectiveness through defenders: the key to success
Not always do three goals bring victory to Roma, but Gasperini’s team definitely offers spectacular football. In four of the last five matches, the Romans scored 14 goals, including three against Real Madrid. The team’s strength is the corners in the box, whether from play or shooting position. Pay attention to defenders: in the top‑10 Roma players by effectiveness, three defenders have accumulated two or more effectiveness points this season. Now we can talk not only about Donell Malen, but also Leonardo Ballerini, Emmanuel Lulli, Naël Molina, who can pose a threat to Udinese’s defence.
Approximate lineup
3-5-23-4-2-140Okoye16Palma27Cabaselle14Abankva11Camara38Miller8Karlström30Chakvetadze13Berthola9Davis10Džanolo95Gollini87Gialdi5N’Dika20Molina77Lulli4Cristante61Pizilli43Wesley18Suárez86Mora14Malen
Betting on the trend
Six of eight matches between Udinese and Roma ended with a total over. TB 2.5 at 1.63. Udinese in five consecutive home matches scored against Roma. In four of them, in the first half. First half: IT1B 0.5 to 2.60.
Prediction
Udinese vs Roma 31.10.2026 21:00
Udinese approaches the match with Roma in bad shape. Kostya Runkiya’s side has not won in seven consecutive matches and the relegation zone is very close. In the last match against Parma, the Udinese drew, but that result against such a rival is not a reason for joy, although the main coach tries to keep positivity. It is hard to say what can help Udinese, which is neither reliable in defence nor effective in attack, and even before their own fans passes the ball to the rivals.
Roma, with a tight schedule, does not lose in the league, but in recent matches works on morale and will: they survived a defeat in the match against Napoli and won at the end against Cagliari. All thanks to a very powerful offensive game, where defenders, not only Donell Malen, play a more active role. It is assumed that Roma has no chances of losing at home. Prediction: 1-2
