Roma, grappling with a crisis, will take on surprising Serie A leaders Udinese at Stadio Olimpico.

In what turned out to be his final act as Roma manager, Daniele De Rossi was sent off after last week’s 1-1 draw against Genoa, a result that left the club struggling in 16th place in the early Serie A standings.

Having taken the helm in January to replace Jose Mourinho, De Rossi received a three-year contract extension over the summer. However, just eight months later, he was dismissed by the Friedkin family.

The club wasted no time in appointing a new head coach, bringing in former Torino manager Ivan Juric, who faces the challenge of reversing Roma's fortunes amidst anticipated fan protests this weekend.

Ahead of their Europa League opener against Athletic Club next week, Roma will meet a team they have historically dominated, winning 18 of their last 22 league encounters and keeping clean sheets in 11 of those matches.

On the other hand, Udinese sits comfortably atop the table with 10 points—seven more than Roma—matching their best start to a Serie A season since 1999. Their recent comeback win against Parma showcased the resilience of Kosta Runjaic’s squad, as they rallied from a two-goal deficit to secure a thrilling victory.

In contrast to last season, when they often struggled to convert draws into wins, Udinese has been impressively efficient, boasting the best shot conversion rate (25%) from inside the opposition’s box. Runjaic, appointed this summer, has become only the third coach in club history to remain unbeaten in his first four Serie A matches, and he aims to capitalize on the turmoil in the Italian capital.

Prediction:  Roma 1-0 Udinese

Roma vs Udinese stream and TV listing

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