Ivan Jurić makes managerial Roma debut against red-hot Udinese.
AS Roma, under new manager Ivan Jurić, face a formidable challenge against league leaders Udinese at the Stadio Olimpico on Sunday at 17:00 [GMT+1], as they seek their first win of the season amidst a promising Udinese resurgence.
Roma
Roma dismissed club legend Daniele de Rossi from his managerial role following a poor start to the campaign. The Giallorossi are without a win after four Serie A games—drawing three and losing one—which has left them in 16th place with three points.
After goalless draws with Cagliari and Juventus, and a 2-1 home defeat to Empoli, the ultimate blow for De Rossi came after the 1-1 draw against Genoa in their most recent league game. Roma stated that the decision was made in the interest of the team to promptly resume the desired path early in the season.
The club swiftly announced former Torino head coach Ivan Jurić as the new manager. Jurić's first assignment will be a home game against Udinese, a side they have dominated in recent years, winning 18 of the last 22 Serie A encounters between them.
This fixture has been particularly fruitful for Roma since 2013-14, having picked up more league wins and more clean sheets against Udinese than any other opponent in that period. However, the Giallorossi's one win in their last nine Serie A matches offers little optimism for maintaining this run against an in-form Udinese side.
Jurić might use his preferred 3-4-1-2 formation, with Artem Dovbyk and Paulo Dybala possibly leading the attack. Unfortunately, Alexis Saelemaekers and Enzo Le Fée will miss the game due to ankle and muscle injuries, respectively.
Udinese
Udinese started the season in spectacular fashion, currently topping the Serie A table with 10 points from three wins and one draw after four matches.
After a 1-1 draw with Bologna on the opening day, Kosta Runjaić's men have won three straight matches. They picked up a 2-1 win over Lazio, a 1-0 victory over Como, and a comeback 3-2 win over Parma in their last league outing.
“The keys are always connection between departments and team spirit,” Runjaić said after the win over Parma. Le Zebrette are heading into a matchday at the top of the Serie A table for the first time since matchday eight of the 2011-12 season.
With five of their seven goals coming in the second half, Udinese are joint-top for points recovered (4) from losing positions in Serie A this season, alongside Lazio. A 3-5-2 formation with Lorenzo Lucca and Florian Thauvin is expected on Sunday.
Team form
Showing the latest five games—giving you a quick look at recent performance trends. Teams in good form tend to do well in the next match.
Team Comparison
Side-by-side assessment of team statistics, including goals, attacks, and more. This allows you to directly compare key performance metrics. Analyzing these stats can reveal patterns and strengths that might influence the outcome.