Udinese host AS Roma at the Bluenergy Stadium in Udine on Saturday, October 31, with kickoff at 1 p.m. ET. The match will be broadcast on CBS in the United States.
Runjaic Under Pressure
The game carries significant weight for Udinese head coach Kosta Runjaic, whose future at the club is under scrutiny after a run of six consecutive defeats left the team 17th in the Serie A table with nine goals scored and 18 conceded in nine matches. A 0-0 draw away to Parma on Wednesday provided a brief respite, but the Halloween fixture against Roma could be decisive for the German manager, despite ownership confirming he will remain at least until the November international break.
Nani Calls for Reaction
Sporting director Gianluca Nani urged the squad to respond after the difficult spell. "We are coming off six consecutive defeats, but we firmly believe that this team is not who we really are," he told DAZN. "We are the same side that put in some impressive performances, against Como, for example, and also against Lazio. This is not an easy period, and it is our responsibility to turn things around and get back on the path we set out on two years ago." Nani added that performances like the loss to Lecce were unacceptable and demanded greater focus in individual moments.
Davis on Life in Serie A
Udinese striker Keinan Davis spoke to CBS Sports Golazo's Morning Footy about the differences between Serie A and English football. "Compared to England, it's much slower, I'd say. And more structured and tactical. You get less 1v1 kind of actions. In the Premier League or in the Championship, you get a lot of wing play. Here they play a lot of five at the back," Davis said. He also noted the passionate Italian fan culture and admitted a preference for English food.
De Roon Happy at Roma
AS Roma midfielder Marten de Roon, who moved from Atalanta in the summer, expressed satisfaction working again under coach Gian Piero Gasperini. "I'm happy to re-find him and it was like he's never gone away. Still the same ideas, some developments, but in the end, yeah, his playing style, the way he wants to do things, I still memorize it," de Roon said. He highlighted the squad depth, noting that Roma have about 19-20 players capable of performing at a high level, which helps maintain quality through rotations.
