Udinese were unable to replicate the impressive win over Atalanta as Kosta Runjaic’s side fell to a 2-0 defeat away to Roma to continue a poor run of results against the Giallorossi in the capital.
Roma started the first half on the front foot. The first shot, shortly after the 10th minute, came from the hosts, with Manu Kone registering two attempts in a scramble and unable to get the better of Maduka Okoye.
In the following minutes, Udinese began to push forward, while Roma had two chances with Zeki Celik and Lorenzo Pellegrini, as both of their headers going wide. Arthur Atta had an opportunity on the counter, but his angled shot was too wide.
Around the half-hour mark, Bryan Cristante struck the post with a deflected shot from the edge of the box, while Hassane Kamara troubled Mile Svilar with a long-range strike.
In the closing minutes of the first half, Roma took the lead, with Pellegrini converting a penalty awarded after a VAR review for a handball by Kamara.
Early in the second half, Adam Buksa had a chance for Udinese, served by Jesper Karlstrom, but Svilar saved his shot from the edge of the area. Around the hour mark, Nicolo Zaniolo launched a counter-attack, finding Karlstrom on the run, but the captain’s shot was blocked by Evan Ndicka. Immediately after, Roma doubled their lead, with Celik scoring after a one-two on the right side of the box.
Around the 75th minute, Zaniolo had a chance to get his side back into the game after winning possession back in the area, but Svilar denied him. Roma went close again through Tommaso Baldanzi, whose curling effort was blocked by a defender.
In the final minutes, Udinese tried to get back into the game: Svilar made a diving save to deny Bayo’s header from a corner, the post thwarted Atta after a brilliant run by Alessandro Zanoli down the right, and a defender blocked Keinan Davis’s low cross in the area.
Despite their late efforts, Udinese left with no points, remaining on 15 in the Serie A table in tenth place going into the international break.
Roma 2-0 Udinese – HT: (1-0)
Scorers: Pellegrini 42 (pen), Celik 61.
Roma (3-4-2-1):
Svilar; Mancini, Ndicka, Hermoso; Celik (Ghilardi 90), Kone, Cristante (c), Wesley (Ziolkowski 90); Soule (El Shaarawy 74), Pellegrini (El Aynaoui 74); Dovbyk (Baldanzi 43).
Svilar; Mancini, Ndicka, Hermoso; Celik (Ghilardi 90), Kone, Cristante (c), Wesley (Ziolkowski 90); Soule (El Shaarawy 74), Pellegrini (El Aynaoui 74); Dovbyk (Baldanzi 43).
Subs not used: Vasquez, Gollini, Rensch, Tsimikas, Pisilli.
Coach: Gasperini.
Coach: Gasperini.
Udinese (3-5-2):
Okoye; Bertola, Kabasele (Palma 54), Solet; Zanoli, Ekkelenkamp, Karlstrom (c) (Piotrowski 72), Atta, Kamara (Zemura 82); Zaniolo (Bayo 82), Buksa (Davis 72).
Okoye; Bertola, Kabasele (Palma 54), Solet; Zanoli, Ekkelenkamp, Karlstrom (c) (Piotrowski 72), Atta, Kamara (Zemura 82); Zaniolo (Bayo 82), Buksa (Davis 72).
Subs not used: Nunziante, Sava, Padelli, Goglichidze, Lovric, Zarraga, Gueye, Bravo, Ehizibue, Modesto.
Coach: Runjaic.
Coach: Runjaic.
Referee: Collu.
Assistant referees: Cipressa and Trinchieri.
Fourth official: Mucera.
VAR: Dionisi.
Assistant VAR: Fabbri.
Booked: Cristante 28, Pellegrini 45+4, Karlstrom 62.
Added time: 4+4.
Added time: 4+4.