- Udinese’s match with Roma on April 14 was abandoned with the score at 1-1
- Phil Foden reveals what it’s REALLY like to play for Pep Guardiola in an It’s All Kicking Off special. Listen on Spotify, Apple or wherever you get your podcasts
Serie A action returns on Thursday evening, but in the unusual fashion of an extremely shortened match.
Udinese take on Roma in a rescheduled match from earlier this month – with the encounter lasting just 18 minutes plus allotted injury time.
This is because the original match was abandoned after 72 minutes on April 14 when Roma defender Evan Ndicka collapsed on the pitch.
The 24-year-old Ivorian was taken away on a stretcher after falling backwards on the field, after which the match in Udine was later abandoned at 1-1.
Ndicka was conscious but in visible pain and rubbed his chest with his right hand as the medical team rushed to him.
Udinese (left) and Roma face off in a rearranged 18-minute match on Thursday evening
The original match on April 14 was abandoned after Roma defender Evan Ndicka collapsed
Players from both sides gather around Ndicka to express their concerns during the match
Ndicka (photo on April 14) was taken away on a stretcher after she fell backwards on the field
He was discharged from hospital a day after the incident and cleared to resume sporting activities after undergoing a series of tests.
In a statement on Tuesday, the Giallorossi said: ‘Ndicka underwent a series of third-level cardiological and pulmonary tests.
‘Tests carried out confirmed the absence of cardiac pathologies and the healing of the minimal pneumothorax that occurred during the competition.
“The player is therefore fit to resume sporting activities, which will be monitored in the coming days.”
And with both teams agreeing to finalize the meeting, we now have the bizarre scenario of this resumption.
Both sides will be allowed to make complete changes to their starting XI for this match, but those substituted during the first 72 minutes of the match will not be allowed to feature. In this case this applies to Kingsley Ehizibue and Hassane Kamara for Udinese and Dean Huijsen and Houssem Aouar for Roma
The 24-year-old Ivorian was released from hospital a day after the incident
He has since been cleared to resume his sporting activities after undergoing a series of tests
This time, Roma will have to make do without Romelu Lukaku, who scored in the original match, due to an injury
From the first match, Roma will have to make do without the now injured Romelu Lukaku, who scored in the original match, but can call on Sardar Azmoun and Paulo Dybala to help fill that attacking gap.
Udinese currently sit 17th in Serie A – one place out of the relegation zone thanks to a better goal difference, while Roma are fifth – seven points behind fourth and the final qualifying spot for next season’s Champions League.