Mourinho stumbles on the race for Europe

Ends 1-1 the challenge between Udinese e Romavalid for the 29th matchday of Serie A. The Friulians dominate the first half, finding the advantage with a Molina’s masterpiece at 15 ‘and touching the 2-0 with a incredible double Makengo wood. The Giallorossi are struggling to create chances, but in the 94th minute they are equal on rigor with Pilgrims (touch of Zeegelaar’s hand). Mourinho slows down its pursuit of Europe, Cioffi sees the goal salvation.

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THE MATCH

A Rome out of breath therefore manages to snatch a punticino even in Udine and extend his streak of unbeatenarrived in 8 station consecutive in the league. The Giallorossi are struggling damnably against Udinese, creating very little and risking the knockout blow more than once, even in the final minutes. In the end he thinks about it seagull to give, literally, a hand to Mou, with the eleven-meter coldness of Captain Pellegrini doing the rest. Atalanta, stopping at 0-0 against Genoa, misses the overtaking, but it’s now the Lazio, which in the monday night with Venice can aspire to take fifth place. 6 days before the derby. So much regret for the Friuliansbut also a ranking and a performance that can make you sleep peacefully.

Cioffi relies on the attacking couple Beto-Deulofeuwhile Mourinho does not renounce to be warned Pellegrini and Zaniolo with a view to derby, sending the best formation available on the field. The hosts start very strong, attacking the Giallorossi especially on the right, where Zalewski looks a bit confused and out of position. The first chance comes from a foray of Pereira on that side, but the Argentine’s excavation on the exit of Rui Patricio ends far from the mirror. Immediately after, Roma has a good chance with Abraham on the break, but his right is too strangled and goes off to the side. The possession of the Giallorossi is sterile and without outlets, while the Friulians attack with much more effectiveness and at 15 ‘deservedly take the lead: on the developments of a corner Pellegrini rejects badly on Molina’s feetwho doesn’t think twice and brushes a extraordinary southpaw that slips on the distant pole. Mourinho’s men fail to react, limiting themselves to one slow and predictable ball spin which allows Silvestri to remain a spectator of the match for a long time. At 38 ‘the hosts go a step away from 2-0, but on siluro in Makengo the ball, deflected by Rui Patricio, crashes first on crossbarthen slams on back of the goalkeeper and finally on palobefore returning to the game and being wiped out.

At the beginning of the second half Mourinho removes a impalpable Oliveira and inserts El Shaarawy passing to 3-4-3. Roma raises the center of gravity, but continues to struggle damnably to create noteworthy actions and indeed Udinese is still close to doubling: Makengo he frees himself well from the limit, but he closes his right too much and does not hit the door. At 65 ‘comes the turn of Shomurodov and Afena-Gyan, which takes a couple of minutes to touch even with a big right from the outside that hisses at the edge of the pole. A little more than a quarter of an hour from the term Mou the card is also played Veretout and immediately after Roma perhaps have the clearest opportunity to date, but on the El Shaarawy incursion the Giallorossi conclusions are walled in series by the Juventus defense. In a final with the team all poured into the attack, the Portuguese coach has to thank the reflexes of Rui Patricio on Udinese counterattacksbefore lucky (it must be said) rigor that allows the Capitoline to save a really subdued evening.

REPORT CARDS

Molina 7 – Continuous thrust and a goal that is worth the price of the ticket. Only Pellegrini’s rigor denies him the title of hero of the evening.
Pereira 6.5 – Director and incursor, especially in the first half he is the absolute master of the midfield, which he occupies with great personality guiding his leaders.
Dulofeu 6.5 – When he has the ball between his feet, the Roma defense is always in trouble. His dribbles and accelerations of him are a constant thorn in his side. His only flaw remains that of being too stubborn.

Oliveira 5 – Dispute 45 ‘of total anonymity, in which it is limited to ordinary administration in a team apparently unable to create and accelerate. He stays in the locker room at half-time.
Pilgrims 6 – A complicated evening for him too, who often floats between the lines without knowing where to hit his head. However, the rigor that is equal is impeccable and the sufficiency is also worth it.
Abraham 5,5 – Abandoned there in front and practically never assisted by the rest of the team, he creates by himself the only Giallorossi chance of the first half, but he hits badly. Then little else.

THE TABLE

Udinese-Roma 1-1
Udinese (3-5-2): Silvestri 6; Becao 7, Mari 6.5, Perez 6.5 (37th Sailor 5.5); Molina 7, Pereyra 6,5, Jajalo 6, Makengo 6,5 (41 ‘st Samardzic sv), Udogie 6; Beto 6, Deulofeu 6,5 (41 ‘st Pussetto sv).
Trainer: Cioffi 6.5
Roma (3-5-2): Rui Patricio 6.5; Mancini 6 (40′ st Perez sv), Smalling 6, Ibanez 6; Karsdorp 5.5 (28′ st Veretout 6), Pellegrini 6, Cristante 6, Oliveira 5 (1′ st El Shaarawy 6), Zalewski 5 (20′ st Afena-Gyan 5.5); Zaniolo 5, Abraham 5.5 (20′ st Shomurodov 6).
Trainer: Mourinho 5,5
Referee: Beautiful
Markers: 15′ Molina (U), 45’+4 st rig. Pellegrini (R)
Ammonites: Deulofeu (U), Afena-Gyan (R), Makengo (U), Ibanez (R), Becao (U)
Expelled:

THE STATISTICS

• Udinese and Roma have not drawn a match in Serie A since 9 March 2013 (1-1) – since then 15 Giallorossi wins and two of the Friulians.
• Roma went undefeated for eight consecutive games (4W, 4N) for the first time since August 2020 in Serie A.
• Udinese have remained unbeaten in nine of their last 10 Serie A home games (3W, 6N).
• Lorenzo Pellegrini has equaled his scoring record in a Serie A season: seven goals, like last season.
• No defender has scored more than Nahuel Molina this season considering all competitions in the big-5 European leagues (six goals).
• Excluding penalties, Nahuel Molina is the defender to have scored the most goals in this league (five).
• Molina’s goal interrupted Udinese’s 297-minute Serie A breakdown against Roma, starting with Ilija Nestorovski’s goal on 2 July 2020.
• Lorenzo Pellegrini has scored five away of his seven goals in this league – he hasn’t scored since 9 January against Juventus.
• Pellegrini’s (93:44) is Roma’s latest goal since Abraham’s goal (98:05) against Spezia on 27 February, again on a penalty spot.
• Roma found the equalizer thanks to the second shot in the mirror attempted during the match.

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