Crisis club Roma will meet Serie A surprise package Udinese on Sunday, as the teams convene at Stadio Olimpico.
With just three points from four matches, the Giallorossi board brutally sacked club hero Daniele De Rossi in midweek; by contrast, their visitors are flying high near the top of the table after three straight wins.
Match preview
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In what was ultimately his last act as Roma manager, Daniele De Rossi was sent off at the end of his side's 1-1 draw at Genoa last week, when conceding a stoppage-time equaliser left the capital club languishing 16th in the early Serie A standings.
Having taken over as head coach in January, replacing Jose Mourinho, De Rossi was handed a three-year contract extension during the summer, but only eight months after returning to his beloved club he was told to leave by the Friedkin family.
Wasting no time to name a replacement, ex-Torino coach Ivan Juric was appointed, and he has been tasked with turning things around amid promises of fan protests this weekend.
Roma have not only made a winless start to the Serie A campaign - following two goalless draws and a home defeat to Empoli with last week's frustrating result in Genoa - but they have also won just one of their last nine league games stretching back to last season.
Only twice before have the Giallorossi gone through their first five top-flight fixtures without winning - and not for 40 years - so they will hope to lean on precedent when tackling in-form Udinese.
Ahead of returning to the Europa League next week, when Athletic Club will be their opening opponents, Roma meet a club they have beaten no fewer than 18 times in their last 22 league meetings, keeping clean sheets on 11 occasions.
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With 10 points on the board already - seven more than Roma - Udinese have equalled their best start to a Serie A season, matching a total they last managed at this stage of a campaign 24 years ago.
Monday's comeback win over Parma highlighted the spirit in Kosta Runjaic's squad, as they trailed by two goals at half time before Lorenzo Lucca pulled one back and Florian Thauvin bagged a brace at Stadio Tardini.
Reaching top spot in Serie A for the first time since matchday eight of the 2011-12 season, the Friulani had previously beaten Como and Lazio after an opening-day draw with Bologna, having cruised through the first round of the Coppa Italia.
By contrast with last term, when they routinely failed to turn one point into three, Udinese have been impressively clinical so far, boasting the best shot-conversion rate (25%) when considering attempts from inside the opposition area.
Appointed in the summer, Runjaic is only the third coach in club history to remain unbeaten in his first four Serie A matches, and he will now aim to take advantage of ongoing chaos in the Italian capital.
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Team News
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For his first game in charge, new Roma boss Ivan Juric will have an almost full squad available, with only Alexis Saelemaekers certainly sidelined and midfielder Enzo Le Fee still a minor doubt.
Polish winger Nicola Zalewski has been brought in from the cold, having been frozen out for failing to agree a transfer to Turkey, while post-deadline signings Mats Hummels and Mario Hermoso could make their first starts.
Likely to support Artem Dovbyk up front, Paulo Dybala has been involved in more Serie A goals against Udinese than any other club (20) - eight more than against any other opponent.
Meanwhile, in the absence of injured star Alexis Sanchez, Udinese's front line will be led by Lorenzo Lucca and Florian Thauvin.
The latter has effectively won his side more points (six) than any other player in Serie A so far, while equalling his best start to a season in terms of goal involvements - four from as many matches.
Providing Lautaro Giannetti shakes off a muscular problem, the Bianconeri could name an XI unchanged from that which started in Parma on Monday evening.
Roma possible starting lineup:
Svilar; Mancini, Hermoso, Ndicka; Celik, Kone, Cristante, Angelino; Dybala, El Shaarawy; Dovbyk
Udinese possible starting lineup:
Okoye; Kristensen, Bijol, Giannetti; Ehizibue, Lovric, Karlstrom, Payero, Kamara; Thauvin, Lucca
We say: Roma 1-0 Udinese
Although time is not on his side, Ivan Juric is accustomed to making teams tougher to beat, so Roma could grind out an overdue first win of the season.
Udinese's fine run must come to an end at some time, and the former table-toppers will be edged out in a close contest at the Olimpico.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Jonathan O'Shea
