Six Straight Losses Put Udinese Coach On The Spot

Udinese has lost six consecutive Serie A matches and enters Saturday's home fixture against AS Roma with nine goals scored and 18 conceded across nine games. The club sits 17th in the standings after drawing 0-0 at Parma on Wednesday, following opening results against Como and Monza. Kickoff at Bluenergy Stadium in Udine is set for 1 p.m. ET on Saturday, Oct. 31, with CBS carrying the broadcast. Odds list Udinese at +448, the draw at +337 and Roma at -198.

The result will carry weight for head coach Kosta Runjaic, who joined Udinese in the summer of 2024. He finished 12th in his first season and 10th the next. His squad this season includes Nicolo Zaniolo, Oumar Solet, Keinan Davis and Arthur Atta, the last of whom moved to Fiorentina in the summer. Udinese ownership has kept Runjaic in place through the November international break, leaving Saturday's match as the next decision point on his tenure.

Sporting director Gianluca Nani addressed the losing run before the Parma draw. "We are coming off six consecutive defeats, but we firmly believe that this team is not who we really are," he told DAZN, citing performances against Como and Lazio. He added: "Performances like the one against Lecce are unacceptable, and the players know that."

Roma arrives at the fixture as a title contender and carries its own roster changes. Midfielder Marten de Roon moved from Atalanta in the summer, reuniting with coach Gian Piero Gasperini, who previously managed him at Atalanta. De Roon scored his first goal of the season on Oct. 14 from outside the box in Champions League play. He said adapting to Gasperini's system was straightforward because he already knew the coach's ideas, and that regaining match fitness took time because of the physical demands.

De Roon described the squad's depth as a current strength. He said the group contains about 19 to 20 players available at the same level, so replacing a starter does not cost the team quality. He cited the comeback against Napoli, where Roma trailed before drawing and scoring, as an example of players entering and sustaining the performance.

Davis, the English striker, discussed his adjustment to Italy before the Roma match. He compared the pace of Serie A to the Championship and Premier League, saying the league is slower and more structured, with five-at-the-back setups producing wing-back deliveries and crosses rather than frequent one-on-one situations. He also said he prefers English food to Italian cuisine because he eats simply and avoids heavy sauces.