Roma will aim to keep the pressure mounting on Bologna when they face Udinese tonight at the Bluenergy Stadium.
With Italy currently on top of the UEFA league coefficient standings, finishing 5th this season would be enough for Roma to qualify for the new format of the Champions League next season. However, Daniele De Rossi will be pushing his side to usurp 4th place from Bologna by the end of the campaign as they are only four points short. The Giallorossi need to be on their top form at the season’s business end as Atalanta are closely following them. Gianluca Mancini’s goal against Milan at the San Siro in the first leg of the Europa League quarter-finals proves to be huge for Roma as they now have a lead to defend in the return leg at home.
Meanwhile, Udinese stand threatened with relegation as the difference between them and 18th-placed Frosinone is only two points. Losing all three points tonight might be disastrous for the Udine-based outfits as the survival race battlers will pounce on every opportunity they get from the mistakes of their counterparts. Udinese’s last win came over a month back against Lazio. Lorenzo Lucca and Oier Zarraga were on the scoresheet to cancel out Lautaro Giannetti’s own goal to grab a famous victory.
Udinese (3-5-1-1): Okoye; N. Pérez, Bijol, Kristensen; Ebosele, Samardzic, Walace, Zarraga, H. Kamara; Pereyra; Lucca.
Roma (4-3-3): Svilar; Karsdorp, Mancini, N’Dicka, Angeliño; Bove, Paredes, Aouar; Baldanzi, Lukaku, El Shaarawy.
Trambak Bhattacherjee | GIFN
