Udinese undone by Menez-inspired Roma

A Jeremy Menez-inspired Roma beat Udinese 2-0 on Saturday to move into provisional third place in Serie A ahead of the remainder of the weekend’s action.

Menez scored a superb solo goal in the 24th minute before setting up Marco Borriello for Roma’s second in the 56th minute to wrap up the points for the capital club.

The France international’s key interventions enabled Roma to notch up their fifth victory from their last seven games in the Italian top flight.

Roma’s reward was to move up three places into third, on 22 points, four points behind leaders AC Milan who host Fiorentina in Saturday’s late game.

Milan are buoyant after new signing Zlatan Ibrahimovic sunk his former team-mates last Sunday, leaving them a point above Lazio at the summit while Fiorentina have struggled this season to be placed 12th with 15 points.

Sunday’s programme includes champions Inter Milan, languishing in fifth place, at Chievo.

Italian press reports have claimed that new manager Rafael Benitez has only two matches to save his Inter Milan career.