Preseason friendlies: Udinese vs. Mainz, probable lineups

Udinese takes the field Saturday at 4 p.m. in Mittersill, Austria, for a preseason friendly against Mainz, a Bundesliga team. The Friulians are still winless: after a draw with Istra, they suffered two losses in friendly matches against Swansea and Al-Ahli Dubai. Runjaic is relying on Davis up front, supported by Zaniolo and Ekkelenkamp. In midfield are Miller and Piotrowski, while Vojvoda and Kamara will play on the wings.

Here’s what the Bianconeri coach had to say at his latest press conference: “We’ve made two very smart signings, especially in terms of timing—this gives me time to work with them. Unai Gomez is a player who fits perfectly into the squad; here, we want to bring out his full potential. As for Vojvoda, he’s an experienced player who knows Serie A; he’s a leader—a calm person but with a strong presence on the field—who knows the league well but understands that Udinese is different from Como; we need to give him time to adapt. He can play in many positions—on the wings and as a defender—and can contribute a great deal to the team and our approach.”

“I wish Atta all the best; he embarked on a journey of growth that allowed him to become a starter last year, showing great things. His departure, however, will give others the opportunity to prove themselves. Then there’s the situation with Okoye, who unfortunately got injured, but we saw what he brought to the table at the end of last season; we’re confident he can continue to improve and become one of the best goalkeepers in Serie A. Now he needs to get back in shape.”

Udinese (3-4-2-1): Padelli; Palma, Kristensen, Bertola; Vojvoda, Miller, Piotrowski, Kamara; Zaniolo, Ekkelenkamp; Davis. Head Coach: Runjaic.