Roma play host to Udinese on Sunday looking for the victory that will ensure that they head into the November international break sitting one point adrift of the Serie A leaders as a worst-case scenario.
That is despite Gian Piero Gasperini's side suffering a 1-0 defeat at the hands of title rivals AC Milan last weekend.
While Udinese make the trip to Stadio Olimpico sitting in ninth position in the table, they trail Roma by just the six points, highlighting that they are just a win away from moving themselves into contention for an unlikely top-four bid.
How the bookies see it: Udinese clear outsiders despite form
As expected, Roma are the bookmakers favourites to prevail from this contest with BOYLE Sports pricing them as short as 11/20.
The draw can be take for an attractive 11/4, with Udinese available for as high as 9/2, despite the fact that they inflicted Atalanta BC's first domestic defeat of the season last weekend.
Head to head: Roma domination over the years
These two teams may be relatively closely-matched during 2025-26, but that has not been the case over the years.
Across the last 44 competitive matches, Roma have prevailed on as many as 31 occasions, Udinese winning 10 times.
Roma have emerged victorious on the last five occasions, scoring either two or three goals in each fixtures.
Udinese's last success came via a 4-0 home triumph back in September 2022, with their last success over Roma at Stadio Olimpico coming in July 2020, when football resumed behind closed doors during the coronavirus pandemic and Roma had a player sent off.
Players to watch: Soule to star again for Roma?
Roma may be sitting in fourth place in the table, but they have only scored 10 goals in as many Serie A fixtures.
Matias Soule is the leading marksman with three strikes, also contributing two assists, while the versatile Argentine attacker also netted in Roma's 2-0 victory at Rangers in the Europa League on Thursday night.
Udinese have only scored two more goals than Inter in Italy's top flight this season, Nicolo Zaniolo and Keinan Davis their top goalscorers with three strikes apiece.
Zaniolo scored the only goal of the game against Atalanta last Saturday, further boosting a recent scoring run of three goals from four appearances.
Probable lineups:
With Paulo Dybala missing the Rangers game through injury, the Argentina international is a considerable fitness doubt for this contest.
That could see Gasperini select Artem Dovbyk as a partner for Soule in a two-man attack, while Lorenzo Pellegrini is pushing for a Serie A start ahead of Manu Kone.
Udinese forward Davis will be assessed ahead of this contest having missed the Atalanta success through injury.
Even if the former Aston Villa man is passed fit, Adam Buksa may keep his place alongside Zaniolo.
Barring any fitness issues, Kosta Runjaic may be happy to name the same team that stunned Atalanta.
Roma: Svilar; Mancini, Ndicka, Hermoso; Celik, Kone, Cristante, El Aynaoui, Wesley; Dovbyk, Soule
Udinese: Okoye; Bertola, Kabasele, Solet; Zanoli, Ekkelenkamp, Karlstrom, Atta, Kamara; Buksa, Zaniolo
Anything else catch the eye?
Despite suffering three defeats in 10 matches, Roma have still only conceded five goals, which gives them the best defensive record in the division.
Three of those five goals have been shipped at Stadio Olimpico. Roma have also not scored more than twice in any of their five home league fixtures.
Udinese may have netted six times on their travels but they have also conceded eight goals.
However, while they are on a three-game winless streak on their travels, they have already recorded an away win at Inter Milan this season.
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