Roma Focuses On Continued Development Under Gasperini Ahead Of Udinese Match

Add as a preferred source on Google

Lorenzo Pellegrini expressed Roma's eagerness to maintain their strong start under Gian Piero Gasperini as they gear up to face Udinese at the Stadio Olimpico. Roma currently sit fourth in Serie A, just a point behind Napoli, following a 2-0 victory over Rangers in the Europa League. Pellegrini, who initially struggled to find his place this season, has become a regular since scoring against Lazio in late September.

Roma aim to recover from their recent league defeat to AC Milan. Pellegrini emphasised their primary focus is on continuous improvement under Gasperini, whom he admires greatly. "The coach is very demanding, but he knows the right buttons to press," Pellegrini told Sky Sport Italia. "As a player and as a fan, I am very happy that he is the coach of Roma."

Udinese currently hold ninth place in Serie A after ten matches. They have secured wins against Atalanta and Lecce but suffered a loss to Juventus. Their recent form includes two wins, two draws, and two losses in their last six league games. Notably, they defeated Inter at San Siro earlier this season.

Artem Dovbyk has been instrumental for Roma against Udinese, scoring in both encounters last season. He netted the decisive penalty in their latest meeting on January 26, 2025. Meanwhile, Nicolo Zaniolo has found the net in consecutive appearances for Udinese and aims to match his best scoring streak across Europe's top leagues.

Roma have dominated Udinese at home, winning 14 of their last 16 Serie A meetings (L2). Since the 2009-10 season, they've beaten Udinese more than any other team at home in the league. Gasperini's side have conceded only five goals this season; only Arsenal and Bayern Munich have conceded fewer across Europe's top leagues.

Udinese have allowed at least two goals in each of their last five Serie A matches against Roma and lost all five encounters. However, they've collected at least 15 points from their first ten Serie A games in each of the past two seasons. This achievement matches their combined total from the previous twelve campaigns at this stage.

Pellegrini's Journey and Team Dynamics

Pellegrini faced challenges early this season due to injury and lack of match fitness but has since gained consistency. "It was difficult at the start," he said. "Now I feel good physically." He appreciates Gasperini's coaching style and believes it's still early days for Roma's potential to fully emerge.

"We had results at the start of the season," Pellegrini noted, "but without the same determination and visible improvements that we saw today." He remains optimistic about Roma's progress under Gasperini's guidance.

Opta Win Probability

The Opta win probability suggests a strong chance for a Roma victory against Udinese with a 58.9% likelihood of winning compared to an 18.4% chance for Udinese.

The upcoming match between Roma and Udinese promises excitement as both teams seek crucial points in Serie A standings while showcasing individual talents like Dovbyk and Zaniolo.