Match Preview

The teams placed 10^th and 4^th in Serie A face-off in this week’s Udinese vs Roma preview this week as things start to heat up in Italy’s top division. The home team have had a lacklustre start to 2018 and though there are no fears of them being dragged into a relegation battle, their hopes of European qualification look all but over.

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Ahead of today’s Udinese vs Roma betting tips, the Zebrette have won just one in six, despite having a favourable run of fixtures. Udinese started the New Year with back-to-back draws against Chievo and SPAL, before losing 0-3 at Lazio. The won 1-0 at Genoa after that, but could only draw 1-1 at home to Milan. Their recent 0-2 at Torino saw them leapfrogged in the table by the club from Turin. Massimo Oddo’s attack only managed to plunder four goals during that disappointing six-game sequence.

Roma too have had to endure a less than ideal start to 2018, though they have recovered somewhat in the last couple of weeks with successive victories over Verona and Benevento. Their 5-2 win over Benevento at the weekend felt like a big moment for the Giallorossi who hadn’t scored more than once in any of their eleven matches before that. The Romans have only been beaten once on their travels in Serie A in 2017/18.

Udinese vs Roma Prediction and Betting Advice

The historical head-to-head statistics of the fixture analysed for this week’s Udinese vs Roma bets are pretty telling. In each of the last nine meetings between these clubs, the Romans have come out on top. In fact, the last win for the Zebrette in this game was back in October 2012, but since then they haven’t had a look in.

When the teams met earlier in the season at the Stadio Olimpico, the Giallorossi ran out 3-1 wins, helped by a couple of goals from wide forward Stephan El Shaaraway. The Romans have won on each of their last four visits to the Dacia Arena too, keeping a clean sheet on three occasions.

Massimo Oddo’s players are struggling to shake off their New Year hangover and their record of one win from six in 2018 makes them huge underdogs ahead of a very difficult weekend fixture. Roma’s wins over Verona and Benevento should ensure they travel to Udine with renewed confidence and I fancy them to take the points. You can get the most bang for your buck by using Sportingbet’s Italian football odds for today’s first pick. Their odds are the most valuable when compared to their competitors.

Bosnian international Edin Dzeko had a difficult January. It looked as though he was going through the motions as a move to Chelsea in the Premier League looked on the cards. However, the transfer fell through and with the doubt surrounding his future removed, Dzeko recent performances have improved. 

Dzeko bagged his first goal in three just prior to today’s Udinese vs Roma predictions, netting one of his team’s five against Benevento. The goal took the 31-year-old’s total for the season to fourteen and the former Man City hitman is comfortably the Giallorossi’s top scorer in 2017/18.

Furthermore, Dzeko has a great record against the Zebrette. The target man has scored in three of this last four appearances against Udinese and would have had four in four had he not missed a penalty on Roman’s last visit to the Dacia Arena in January of last year. Backing him to score anytime this weekend is a worthwhile addition to our free Italian football tips, especially at the brilliant prices for him to grab a goal anytime at 888Sport.