Udinese - Roma - 7M sport

Udinese - Roma

Posted Wednesday, April 21, 2010 by Goal.com

Will the Bianconeri be able to overturn a two-goal deficit from the first leg?

Kick-Off: Wednesday, April 21, 2010, 1800 (CET).
Stadio Friuli, Udine.

Fairytale Ride

Udinese's journey to the semi-finals of the Coppa Italia has been nothing less than a fairytale. The modest Udine-based club are fighting against relegation in Serie A but they are going great guns in the Tim Cup.

However, the Bianconeri are 2-0 down from the first leg against Roma played in early February at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome, and it is going to be an uphill struggle for them trying to score twice against the league leaders even at home.

Moreover, Udinese have other important issues on their minds at the moment. The Udine-based side are 15th in Serie A with 39 points from 34 matches and are just five points above the relegation zone.

Keeping The Double Dreams Alive

Roma are the in-form side in Serie A and reclaimed pole position in Serie A with a morale-boosting 2-1 comeback victory over Lazio in the Rome derby on Sunday evening. It maintained their unbeaten run and with four rounds of matches remaining in the Italian top flight, the Giallorossi are a point ahead of defending champions Inter, who are second in the league standings.

Roma have a two-goal lead from the first leg in the Coppa Italia semi-final and Claudio Ranieri's side will be confident of progressing to the final. The Lupi might not have a chance of winning any competition in Europe this campaign but they will be eager to accomplish the domestic double.

However, Roma must not be over-confident as Udinese have been improving recently, picking up points and banging in the goals to sustain their top flight survival. An early goal for the Zebrette could make things nervy for Roma.

FORM GUIDE

Udinese

April 18 v Bologna (H) - DREW 1-1 (Serie A)

April 11 v Livorno (A) - WON 2-0 (Serie A)

April 3 v Juventus (H) - WON 3-0 (Serie A)

March 28 v Fiorentina (A) - LOST 4-1 (Serie A)

March 24 v Chievo (H) - DREW 0-0 (Serie A)

Roma

April 18 v Lazio (A) - WON 2-1 (Serie A)

April 11 v Atalanta (H) - WON 2-1 (Serie A)

April 3 v Bari (A) - WON 1-0 (Serie A)

March 27 v Inter (H) - WON 2-1 (Serie A)

March 24 v Bologna (A) - WON 2-0 (Serie A)

TEAM NEWS

Udinese

Udinese are likely to put out their strongest available side against Roma in an attempt to overturn the two-goal deficit. Antonio Di Natale, who has scored 24 goals in Serie A but none in the Coppa Italia so far, will be keen to get on the scoresheet early on and will be flanked on either side by Alexis Sanchez and Antonio Floro Flores.

Probable Line-up (4-3-3): Handanovic, Ferronetti, Domizzi, Lukovic, Pasquale; Pepe, Inler, Asamoah; Sanchez, Di Natale, Floro Flores

Roma

Coach Claudio Ranieri could give Doni a start instead of his regular first-choice Julio Sergio between the sticks while Mexes could slot in for Burdisso in central defence.

Probable Line-up (4-3-1-2): Doni, Cassetti, Juan, Mexes, Riise; Perrotta, Pizarro, De Rossi; Totti; Toni, Vucinic

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Antonio Di Natale (Udinese)

The Italian international scored yet again at the weekend when he netted the ball in the dying minutes against Bologna in Serie A to rescue a point as the Bianconeri continue to battle against relegation. Di Natale has now scored 24 times in the league in 2009-10 but has yet to open his account in the Coppa Italia. Di Natale will be looking forward to breaking his Tim Cup duck against Roma.

Mirko Vucinic (Roma)

The Montenegrin international striker was the hero against city rivals Lazio at the weekend in the Rome derby in Serie A when he scored both goals, one from a penalty and the other from a free-kick. The 26-year-old has been brilliant for the former Italian champions this campaign, having scored 13 goals and provided five assists in 31 league appearances, and has struck twice in two starts in the Tim Cup. Vucinic actually scored against Udinese in the first leg and will be a key player for the visitors.

PREDICTION

Roma should comforably progress to the final of the Coppa Italia and might even win in Udine but they will have to make sure that they don't concede an early goal as the Bianconeri have looked strong at home.

Udinese 0-1 Roma