Roma’s whirlwind October continues today with a Halloween trip to Friuli to face 17th-place Udinese. There was a time when this fixture meant we’d get to bask in the collective glory of Francesco Totti and Antonio DiNatale playing one another, but I’m afraid those days are long gone. While the Zebra’s fortunes have fluctuated wildly since Toto hung up his boots, Udinese are struggling mightily this season, entering today’s fixture firmly in the relegation zone.
Granted, they have ample time to climb
the ladders, but nine weeks into the season, the Little Zebras are the classic trap game for the Giallorossi. On paper, these two sides couldn’t be more different—Udine has mustered only nine goals and five points so far. But as we’ve seen so many times over the years, that disparity can often spell disaster for the so-called superior club.
And that is the exact challenge facing Gian Piero Gasperini’s group today. Can they make quick work of Udinese on their home ground, or will they fall into the trap of simply assuming their superiority will win the day, somehow, someway?
We’ll soon find out!
