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Serie A | Parma 0-0 Udinese: Everybody unhappy in relegation battle
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- Serie A | Parma 0-0 Udinese: Everybody unhappy in relegation battle
Serie A | Parma 0-0 Udinese: Everybody unhappy in relegation battle
A point apiece does little to boost either side, but while Parma saw a penalty saved, Udinese had by far the most chances to win in this relegation dogfight.
This was an unexpectedly tense situation for both clubs, locked together on just four points after eight rounds . Alberto Gilardino lost all three games in charge since taking over from Carlos Cuesta, but the only remaining absentee was Nesta Elphege after having his appendix taken out. There was a change in goal, Giovanni Daffara given his Serie A debut.
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The Friulani lost six on the bounce and coach Kosta Runjaic was hanging by a thread. Nicolò Zaniolo made his return to the field last week in a 2-0 defeat to Milan, but Oumar Solet, Alessandro Zanoli, David Alaba, Vakoun Bayo and Idrissa Gueye were still struggling with fitness issues.
See how it all unfolded on the Liveblog.
ITALY – OCTOBER 28: Enrico Delprato of Parma Calcio reacts during the Serie A match between Parma Calcio and Udinese Calcio at Stadio Ennio Tardini on October 28, 2026 in Italy. (Photo by Emmanuele Ciancaglini/Getty Images)
Zaniolo almost scored in his first start for well over a month, as he juggled the ball with a bit of skill and then bent the curling finish inches past the far top corner.
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The visitors threatened repeatedly, as Hassane Kamara fired just wide after good work from Keinan Davis, while Jesper Karlstrom also drilled not far off target.
ITALY – OCTOBER 28: Keinan Davis of Udinese Calcio reacts during the Serie A match between Parma Calcio and Udinese Calcio at Stadio Ennio Tardini on October 28, 2026 in Italy. (Photo by Emmanuele Ciancaglini/Getty Images)
Udinese had strong penalty appeals rejected after Mariano Troilo and Davis got into a wrestling match in the six-yard box with the cross coming in.
Franco Carboni couldn't keep his header down on the Sascha Britschgi cross, while Nicolò Bertola's deflected effort forced Daffara into a tricky save at full stretch.
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Udinese continued to have the better of the game and on the hour mark Troilo flung himself in the path of a Davis strike from 12 yards, deflecting it inches wide with Daffara beaten.
ITALY – OCTOBER 28: Mandela Keita of Parma Calcio competes for the ball with Nicolo Zaniolo of Udinese Calcio during the Serie A match between Parma Calcio and Udinese Calcio at Stadio Ennio Tardini on October 28, 2026 in Italy. (Photo by Emmanuele Ciancaglini/Getty Images)
Parma were gifted an opportunity to take the lead when Maduka Okoye fumbled a corner and the Troilo shot was charged down by James Abankwah's arm. However, Adrian Bernabé stepped up and saw his penalty parried by Okoye, making up for the earlier error.
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Udinese pushed to the end, as Jurgen Ekkelenkamp had come sliding in to meet the cross from five yards and beat the goalkeeper, but Troilo got back for a decisive goal-line clearance.
Moments later, Daffara denied Unai Gomez from point-blank range at the back post.
Parma 0-0 Udinese
Saved penalty:Bernabé 69 (P)
