# Udinese end their losing run as a weary Roma head to Friuli

Udinese’s goalless draw at Parma stopped six consecutive league defeats, but they remain in the bottom three after scoring just once in their last five league matches. Roma arrive second and unbeaten in Serie A, although Gian Piero Gasperini says fatigue is catching up with a squad missing several regulars.

Preview · Serie A
Editorial board · 28 October 2026

- Udinese v Roma
- Kick-off: 2026-10-31 17:00 UTC
- Ground: Bluenergy Stadium
- Status: To come

Udinese badly needed the point they collected at Parma on Wednesday. Maduka Okoye saved Adrián Bernabé’s penalty in a match where Udinese created the clearer chances, but the goalless finish left them still searching for a way out of the relegation places. Roma offer a tougher test than Parma, yet the home side have at least stopped the slide.

Kosta Runjaić had Nicolò Zaniolo and Keinan Davis in his starting side at Parma. Idrissa Gueye and Vakoun Bayo were listed as injured in Udinese’s 17 October team-news briefing, and neither appeared in Wednesday’s squad. Roma were without Manu Koné, Paulo Dybala, Lorenzo Pellegrini and Mile Svilar against Cagliari; Leonardo Balerdi and Mario Hermoso were also not fit to play that night. Their availability for Saturday remains unresolved.

Roma have moved to 21 points from nine league matches and sit second, while Udinese have five points and remain in the bottom three. The hosts have scored nine goals and conceded 18; Roma have scored 23 and conceded eight. Udinese’s recent drought is stark, but Roma have conceded five times across their last two league matches, despite scoring seven.

Roma have generally had the better of this fixture, winning four of the previous five Serie A meetings. Udinese, however, won the most recent encounter in February, showing that the gap between the sides does not always dictate the result.

## Our call

Roma look capable of grinding out a narrow away win, with Udinese’s recent goal drought making another blank a real possibility.

## Coming in

Udinese drew 0–0 at Parma on Wednesday after six straight league defeats and have scored only once across their last five Serie A matches. Roma followed a 3–3 draw at Napoli with a 4–2 win over Cagliari, but Gasperini acknowledged that fatigue had become apparent amid the team’s packed schedule.

## Between them

Udinese won the last meeting 1–0 at Bluenergy Stadium on 2 February 2026, with Jürgen Ekkelenkamp scoring from a free-kick. Roma had won the previous encounter 2–0 in the capital on 9 November 2025, through goals from Lorenzo Pellegrini and Zeki Çelik.

## The hinge

If Roma’s midfield again shows the fatigue Gasperini described, Udinese taking points becomes likelier.

## Missing

Udinese’s Idrissa Gueye and Vakoun Bayo were listed as injured in the club’s latest specific team-news briefing located, and neither featured against Parma; no newer official update confirms their status for Saturday. Roma were without Manu Koné, Paulo Dybala, Lorenzo Pellegrini and Mile Svilar against Cagliari, while Leonardo Balerdi and Mario Hermoso were also unfit for that match; their availability for Udinese is unconfirmed.