Serie A | Udinese 0-0 Bologna: Stalemate sees Rossoblu slip behind Juventus

Keinan Davis and Riccardo Orsolini rattled the woodwork, but Udinese and Bologna shared the spoils, so the Rossoblu slide down to fifth place behind Juventus.

The visitors were still celebrating qualification for the Coppa Italia Final, beating Empoli 5-1 on aggregate midweek, and needed a victory here to not only keep hold of fourth place, but also close on Atalanta in third. Dan Ndoye, Estanis Pedrola, Emil Holm and Nicolò Casale were injured, but Lukasz Skorupski returned and coach Vincenzo Italiano sat out a touchline ban. The Friulani had lost five on the bounce, with Jaka Bijol suspended, Florian Thauvin, Isaak Touré, Jordan Zemura and Lorenzo Lucca on the treatment table.

See how it all unfolded on the Liveblog.

It was a lightning start, as after 200 seconds Keinan Davis robbed Jhon Lucumi and hit a screamer from outside the box that smashed against the crossbar with Skorupski stranded.

Udinese’s tactic was to sit deep, win back the ball and rush forward on the counter, which saw Martin Payero sting Skorupski’s gloves, but Bologna threatened when Okoye rushed off his line to parry at the feet of Thijs Dallinga running onto the Juan Miranda through ball.

Jurgen Ekkelenkamp went off with a thigh injury and Jens Odgaard did have the ball in the net during first half stoppages, but only after fouling goalkeeper Okoye.

Payero’s free kick flashed just wide of the near top corner, but Riccardo Orsolini went even closer with a fantastic set play that smacked against the frame of the goal on 67 minutes with a slight deflection off the wall.

Oumar Solet spotted Skorupski off his line and almost surprised the goalkeeper with a cheeky lob from midfield. Orsolini had a huge chance in the final minute. Juan Miranda’s cross was flicked on by Santiago Castro for Orsolini’s diving header at the back post, but he couldn’t keep it down from five yards.

Orsolini also pulled back from the by-line for Giovanni Fabbian, anticipated by a one-handed Okoye save at the near post.

Deep into stoppages, Skorupski had difficulty beating away the Sandi Lovric free kick that bounced right in front of him.

Udinese 0-0 Bologna

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