2026-2027 Preseason Friendlies: Udinese vs. Istra 1961, Probable Lineups

Udinese’s 2026-2027 season kicks off with a friendly match against Istra 1961, scheduled for Saturday at 6 p.m. at the “Dino Bruseschi” Sports Center in Udine, Udinese’s 2026–2027 season, following two weeks of training under German coach Kosta Runjaic. More than the final result against the Croatian club, the match will serve to test the physical condition of both veteran and new players, in a situation that is still evolving, given that the transfer window closes on September 1.

Udinese heads into the new season buoyed by the form it displayed last year, finishing in tenth place with 50 points—well above the safety threshold hoped for in the summer of 2025. The match against Istra 1961 will also mark a turning point between the two phases of the summer training camp: starting Tuesday, the Bianconeri will be in Linz, Austria, where they will remain until August 4. The Zaniolo situation is causing a stir during this transfer window: the former Roma player has not yet joined his teammates, a decision the club does not approve of; a split appears likely, barring any surprises.

Istra 1961, a team based in Pula, is coming off a sixth-place finish in the Croatian league, ending the season halfway between the Balkan nation’s top teams and the relegation zone. This summer, they’ve already taken the field four times in friendlies, winning 3-0 against Opatija, drawing twice against UTA Arad (2-2) and Celje (1-1), and defeating the English side Milton Keynes 2-1 on Friday.

Probable Lineups

UDINESE (3-4-1-2): Padelli; Bertola, Kabasele, Goglichidze; Pejicic, Miller, Zarraga, Ekkelenkamp; Pafundi; Gomez, Gueye. Head Coach: Runjaic.

ISTRA 1961 (3-2-3-2): Kolic; Kumar, Hrvatin, Nasraoui; Kablar, Mauric; Celija, Skafar, Saranic; Jaganjac, Frederiksen. Coach: Cabello.