Udinese vs Roma: Ghilardi starts in defence, Mora given a chance from the start

Bryan Cristante spoke to Dazn after Roma beat Udinese, saying the win was essential to stay in contention and that the team now turns its attention to Manchester. Asked whether Roma must always play at full speed, Cristante said: "Yes. We started the second half well, but we conceded two goals. One from distance and one from a corner. We didn't concede too much, but we have to be more focused. It's fine like this, we'll take it home." He was also asked whether the Cristante of old had returned. "Let's hope so, and it's welcome. The important thing was to win and to keep up our momentum. We had to win to stay close, and we did it, it wasn't easy with so many matches close together." On the table, which looks good, and the fact that goals keep coming, he said: "We'll try. It's difficult, there are many matches against strong teams, but if we play like this there are possibilities. We have to compete to stay there for as long as we can. Serie A isn't easy, but as long as we're in it we'll do everything to stay in it." Roma have been scoring and creating a lot, which Cristante called "very important". He added: "If you score it's easier to win. If we can continue like this, it's better." Looking ahead to the trip to Manchester, he said: "It's always Manchester United, a strong team with a lot of very good players. It will be very difficult in their own stadium, they will want to do well and bounce back. We're going there and we'll try to bring back a result, which would be very important for our position in the Champions League."

Roma routed Udinese 5-2, scoring four times in the opening 37 minutes through Cristante, Mora, Malen and N'Dicka. In the second half, Zaniolo and Palma tried to reopen the game for Udinese before Ghilardi sealed the win with the final goal. Roma's first-half display was enough to settle the match well before the closing stages, with the hosts' four-goal cushion built before half-time.

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Roma routed Udinese 5-2, scoring four times in the opening 37 minutes through Cristante, Mora, Malen and N'Dicka. In the second half, Zaniolo and Palma tried to reopen the game for Udinese before Ghilardi sealed the win with the final goal. Roma's first-half display was enough to settle the match well before the closing stages, with the hosts' four-goal cushion built before half-time.

Roma beat Udinese 5-2 at Udine on Halloween, with Bryan Cristante, Rodrigo Mora, Donyell Malen and Evan Ndicka all scoring in a dominant first half, and Daniele Ghilardi adding a late goal. Roma move up to 24 points and are temporarily just one point behind joint leaders Inter and Lazio. Gasperini named Ghilardi, Ndicka and Hermoso in defence in front of Gollini, with Cristante and De Roon in midfield, Molina and Wesley on the flanks, and Malen and Soulé alongside Rodrigo Mora up front. Udinese opened brightly, with Miller testing Gollini from distance, but Roma struck at their first real attack. Cristante headed home from Wesley's cross inside ten minutes, beating Okoye with a powerful run and header. Udinese tried to respond through physical play and Vojvoda's left-foot effort, which Gollini held comfortably. Roma then hit the woodwork twice within a minute. Soulé struck the post after taking advantage of a mistake by Palma, and Malen, with the goal open, hit the crossbar after Okoye parried his first-time shot. Gasperini was seen on the bench in disbelief. The second goal came on the half-hour, when Cristante sent a strong ball to the far post for Mora to tap in. Two minutes later Malen made amends for his miss, skipping past Kabasele and curling a left-footed shot into the corner. Cristante then tried a backheel that Okoye saved, and Ndicka headed in Soulé's perfect corner in the 37th minute. Zaniolo was the main outlet for Udinese, but Ndicka dealt with him well. Maresca sent the teams off at half-time with no added time. The second half began without changes and at a slower pace. Five minutes in, Nicolò Zaniolo reduced the deficit, reacting first to the rebound from Gollini after Miller's long-range effort. Gasperini was furious on the touchline at his side's start to the half. Malen then missed a chance from close range after Molina's cross arrived a moment late. Runjaic made changes on the hour, bringing on Chakvetadze and Unai Gomez for Davis and Ekkelenkamp. Gasperini replied by sending on Castro and Pisilli for Malen and Mora. Palma pulled one back for Udinese with a sweet first-time right-foot strike with twelve minutes left. Gasperini immediately made changes, bringing on Rensch and Mancini for Wesley and Soulé. Unai Gomez came close for Udinese at the 83rd minute. Ghilardi settled the match in the second minute of added time with a powerful first-time right-foot shot that Okoye could not reach. Roma won 5-2, and Maresca blew for full time after four minutes of added time.

Daniele Ghilardi spoke to Dazn before Roma's match against Udinese, stressing the team's focus on picking up as many points as possible. The defender said the squad is in good spirits despite a crowded fixture schedule and limited rest days. Ghilardi said: "We are very fired up. There are a lot of matches and few days of rest, but this is the calendar, we are professionals and we have to get as many points as possible." Asked about his own progress, Ghilardi pointed to the strength of the Roma defensive unit. He said: "We have many players in defence and all of them have quality. Up until the last few matches we were among the best defences, but I think we still are. I am happy with how things are going."

Roma routed Udinese 5-2, scoring four times in the opening 37 minutes through Cristante, Mora, Malen and N'Dicka. In the second half, Zaniolo and Palma tried to reopen the game for Udinese before Ghilardi sealed the win with the final goal. Roma's first-half display was enough to settle the match well before the closing stages, with the hosts' four-goal cushion built before half-time.

Roma beat Udinese 5-2 at Udine on Halloween, with Bryan Cristante, Rodrigo Mora, Donyell Malen and Evan Ndicka all scoring in a dominant first half, and Daniele Ghilardi adding a late goal. Roma move up to 24 points and are temporarily just one point behind joint leaders Inter and Lazio. Gasperini named Ghilardi, Ndicka and Hermoso in defence in front of Gollini, with Cristante and De Roon in midfield, Molina and Wesley on the flanks, and Malen and Soulé alongside Rodrigo Mora up front. Udinese opened brightly, with Miller testing Gollini from distance, but Roma struck at their first real attack. Cristante headed home from Wesley's cross inside ten minutes, beating Okoye with a powerful run and header. Udinese tried to respond through physical play and Vojvoda's left-foot effort, which Gollini held comfortably. Roma then hit the woodwork twice within a minute. Soulé struck the post after taking advantage of a mistake by Palma, and Malen, with the goal open, hit the crossbar after Okoye parried his first-time shot. Gasperini was seen on the bench in disbelief. The second goal came on the half-hour, when Cristante sent a strong ball to the far post for Mora to tap in. Two minutes later Malen made amends for his miss, skipping past Kabasele and curling a left-footed shot into the corner. Cristante then tried a backheel that Okoye saved, and Ndicka headed in Soulé's perfect corner in the 37th minute. Zaniolo was the main outlet for Udinese, but Ndicka dealt with him well. Maresca sent the teams off at half-time with no added time. The second half began without changes and at a slower pace. Five minutes in, Nicolò Zaniolo reduced the deficit, reacting first to the rebound from Gollini after Miller's long-range effort. Gasperini was furious on the touchline at his side's start to the half. Malen then missed a chance from close range after Molina's cross arrived a moment late. Runjaic made changes on the hour, bringing on Chakvetadze and Unai Gomez for Davis and Ekkelenkamp. Gasperini replied by sending on Castro and Pisilli for Malen and Mora. Palma pulled one back for Udinese with a sweet first-time right-foot strike with twelve minutes left. Gasperini immediately made changes, bringing on Rensch and Mancini for Wesley and Soulé. Unai Gomez came close for Udinese at the 83rd minute. Ghilardi settled the match in the second minute of added time with a powerful first-time right-foot shot that Okoye could not reach. Roma won 5-2, and Maresca blew for full time after four minutes of added time.

Roma were in dominant form at the Bluenergy Stadium, leading Udinese 4-0 at half-time after scoring four goals in 37 minutes. Cristante, Mora, Malen and N'Dicka all found the net to settle the away fixture in Friuli early on. Donyell Malen was among the main protagonists, and his form stands out in both home and away matches. According to OptaPaolo, Malen has scored more goals than anyone else in the top five European leagues in 2026, with 22 in total. He has also scored more away goals than any other player in those competitions this year, with 12. Those figures underline how central the Dutch forward has become to Roma's attacking output. The article describes Malen as performing at a consistently high level, whether playing at home or on the road. The Udinese result leaves Roma in a commanding position on the road and highlights the strength of their attacking play in 2026.

Roma beat Udinese 5-2 at Udine on Halloween, with Bryan Cristante, Rodrigo Mora, Donyell Malen and Evan Ndicka all scoring in a dominant first half, and Daniele Ghilardi adding a late goal. Roma move up to 24 points and are temporarily just one point behind joint leaders Inter and Lazio. Gasperini named Ghilardi, Ndicka and Hermoso in defence in front of Gollini, with Cristante and De Roon in midfield, Molina and Wesley on the flanks, and Malen and Soulé alongside Rodrigo Mora up front. Udinese opened brightly, with Miller testing Gollini from distance, but Roma struck at their first real attack. Cristante headed home from Wesley's cross inside ten minutes, beating Okoye with a powerful run and header. Udinese tried to respond through physical play and Vojvoda's left-foot effort, which Gollini held comfortably. Roma then hit the woodwork twice within a minute. Soulé struck the post after taking advantage of a mistake by Palma, and Malen, with the goal open, hit the crossbar after Okoye parried his first-time shot. Gasperini was seen on the bench in disbelief. The second goal came on the half-hour, when Cristante sent a strong ball to the far post for Mora to tap in. Two minutes later Malen made amends for his miss, skipping past Kabasele and curling a left-footed shot into the corner. Cristante then tried a backheel that Okoye saved, and Ndicka headed in Soulé's perfect corner in the 37th minute. Zaniolo was the main outlet for Udinese, but Ndicka dealt with him well. Maresca sent the teams off at half-time with no added time. The second half began without changes and at a slower pace. Five minutes in, Nicolò Zaniolo reduced the deficit, reacting first to the rebound from Gollini after Miller's long-range effort. Gasperini was furious on the touchline at his side's start to the half. Malen then missed a chance from close range after Molina's cross arrived a moment late. Runjaic made changes on the hour, bringing on Chakvetadze and Unai Gomez for Davis and Ekkelenkamp. Gasperini replied by sending on Castro and Pisilli for Malen and Mora. Palma pulled one back for Udinese with a sweet first-time right-foot strike with twelve minutes left. Gasperini immediately made changes, bringing on Rensch and Mancini for Wesley and Soulé. Unai Gomez came close for Udinese at the 83rd minute. Ghilardi settled the match in the second minute of added time with a powerful first-time right-foot shot that Okoye could not reach. Roma won 5-2, and Maresca blew for full time after four minutes of added time.

Roma head to Udinese with Gian Piero Gasperini making several changes to his starting line-up, with Daniele Ghilardi coming into the defence. The match is part of a demanding run of fixtures for the Giallorossi, and the team sheets for both sides have been confirmed. In midfield, Marten de Roon keeps his place rather than being rested and will pair with Bryan Cristante. Up front, Rodrigo Mora and Matías Soulé form the attacking partnership, with Donyell Malen playing behind them. Udinese are coached by Runjaic and line up in a 3-4-2-1 formation, with Okoye in goal and Zaniolo and Ekkelenkamp supporting Davis in attack. Roma's starting XI is Gollini; Ghilardi, Ndicka, Hermoso; Molina, Cristante, De Roon, Wesley; Soulé, Mora; Malen, set out in a 3-4-2-1. For Udinese, Okoye starts in goal, with Abankwah, Kabasele and Palma in defence, Vojvoda, Piotrowski, Karlström and Kamara in midfield, and Davis leading the line. On the bench, Roma have Vásquez, De Marzi, Koulierakis, Rensch, Mancini, Pisilli, Lulli, Di Nunzio, Castro, Arena and Camara among the options available to Gasperini. Udinese's replacements include Padelli, Mrozek, Bertola, Ebosse, Zarraga, Miller, Lovric, Arizala, Chakvetadze, Jovanovic, Unai Gómez and Vinciati.

Roma produced an emphatic 5-2 away win over Udinese in Serie A's tenth round, with Cristante, Mora, Malen and N'Dicka all on the scoresheet before the interval. Gian Piero Gasperini's side led 4-0 at half-time, and Zaniolo and Palma pulled a goal back each for the hosts before Ghilardi settled the match late on. Roma arrived in Friuli still unbeaten in the league and looking to build on their midweek win over Cagliari, while Udinese, under Kosta Runjaic, were chasing a victory they had not managed since late August. Roma were without Mile Svilar, Manu Koné, Lorenzo Pellegrini and Paulo Dybala, and Gasperini made several changes to the side that beat Cagliari, bringing Ghilardi into defence and handing Rodrigo Mora a start alongside Matías Soulé behind Donyell Malen. The match was refereed by Maresca of Napoli, with Lo Cicero and Rossi as assistants, Chiffi as fourth official, and Paterna on VAR assisted by Aureliano. The early tempo was all Roma's. Cristante opened the scoring in the 10th minute, heading home a cross from Wesley with a powerful jump that beat Okoye. Roma kept pressing, and Mora doubled the lead in the 30th minute, finishing with his right foot after a fine assist from Cristante, who was in dominant form. Malen made it three in the 33rd minute, controlling the ball in the box, dribbling to open up space and placing a left-footed shot into the corner. N'Dicka headed in the fourth in the 37th minute from a corner by Soulé, which Okoye could not stop. Roma also struck the woodwork twice in the first half, with Soulé hitting the post and Malen hitting the crossbar after Okoye had saved his first effort. Udinese showed more intent after the break, and Zaniolo reduced the deficit in the 50th minute. Miller's long-range drive was parried by Gollini, and Zaniolo followed up to score from the rebound. Gasperini responded by taking off Mora and Malen in the 59th minute, bringing on Niccolò Pisilli and Santiago Castro, and Roma's changes continued with Wesley and Soulé making way for Nahuel Molina's replacements in the 79th minute. Palma restored some hope for Udinese in the 78th minute, heading in from close range after getting in front of the Roma defence, and Udinese continued to push, with a left-footed strike from Unai Gomez flashing narrowly wide in the 84th minute. Ghilardi finished the match off in the closing minutes, striking a powerful right-footed shot under the crossbar after an assist from Castro, to make it 5-2. Cristante was also booked for a reckless arm in the 60th minute, and Roma were content to manage the game and protect their advantage in the final stages. The result leaves Roma with three important points before a run of meetings that the report describes as decisive in the coming hours. Gasperini's side will look to carry this attacking form into those fixtures, while Udinese face the task of rebuilding after a heavy defeat on home soil. The report confirms that Roma's starting line-up was Gollini; Ghilardi, N'Dicka, Hermoso; Molina, Cristante, De Roon, Wesley; Soulé, Mora; Malen, and that Udinese lined up in a 3-4-2-1 formation with Okoye in goal, Davis up front and Zaniolo and Ekkelenkamp in support. Hermoso was replaced by Koulierakis in the 84th minute, and the match finished 5-2 to Roma.