Stadio Friuli
A dire 0-0 draw was played out at the Stadio Friuli between two teams terrified of defeat.
These two sides were anxiously looking over their shoulders for a potential slip back into the danger zone. Giovanni Pasquale’s suspension prompted a defensive reshuffle, while Dusan Basta, Gaetano D’Agostino, Maurizio Domizzi and Christian Obodo were out of action. Chievo were without Michele Marcolini and Fabio Moro, but welcomed Andrea Mantovani back from a ban.
Antonio Floro Flores and Antonio Di Natale didn’t get enough power on their shots early on, but Andrea Coda was stretchered off with a knee injury to mark Damiano Ferronetti’s comeback.
Samir Handanovic had his palms stung by a Luca Ariatti screamer from distance.
Kwadwo Asamoah wasted a promising counter-attack when he refused to pass it and could only manage a meek finish.
Ariatti’s through ball was just a little too long for Giampiero Pinzi, who had been allowed to spring the offside trap. The two combined again soon after, but this time Handanovic rushed off his line to intercept.
Di Natale squeezed between two defenders to toe-poke the ball, but Stefano Sorrentino did well to save.
After the break Cristian Zapata did well to make a crucial intervention, denying Sergio Pellissier the tap-in from close range.
Pinzi’s header whistled wide from six yards from a taut Nicolas Frey cross from the right.
Sorrentino ran a real risk when he backpedalled to pluck a looping Paolo Sammarco header out of the air just before it completely crossed the line.
Later efforts included Pinzi again one-on-one with Handanovic only to hesitate and a Bernardo Corradi header.
Udinese: Handanovic; Isla, Zapata, Coda (Ferronetti 7), Lukovic; Sammarco, Inler, Asamoah; Pepe (Sanchez 46), Di Natale, Floro Flores (Corradi 85)
Chievo: Sorrentino; Frey, Morero, Yepes, Mantovani; Luciano, Rigoni, Ariatti (Bentivoglio 65); Pinzi; Pellissier (Sardo 92), De Paula (Granoche 75)
Ref: Mazzoleni
Very valid, pithy, succnict, and on point. WD.