On March 15, 2025, Hellas Verona emerged victorious against Udinese with a narrow 1-0 victory during the 29th matchday of the Italian Serie A. The match, held at the Stadio Friuli, saw Udinese boasting significant possession yet failing to convert their chances.
The home side, Udinese, entered the match aiming to extend their remarkable stretch of six games without defeat. Despite this positive momentum, they faced off against Hellas Verona, who were determined to recover from recent defeats. This clash was particularly noteworthy for Udinese fans as Alexis Sánchez was named as one of the starters, which set expectations high for the team's performance. Sánchez’s participation came at a pivotal time, as the Chilean national team was preparing for upcoming qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup.
From the kickoff, it was evident both teams were under pressure to secure points. During the first half, Udinese controlled the game with 55% possession. They created several opportunities with 12 shots on goal compared to Hellas Verona’s eight, but they lacked the finishing touch required to capitalize on their dominance.
The match remained scoreless at halftime, even though Udinese had numerous chances, including attempts by Sánchez, who had several close calls before being substituted at the break. With substitutions made at halftime, Udinese looked to inject fresh energy onto the field, but changes to their line-up did not yield the desired results.
After the break, the dynamics of the match shifted slightly as Hellas Verona began to push forward, trying to capitalize on any lapse from the home side’s defense. The breakthrough came at the 72nd minute from Ondrej Duda, who executed a stunning free-kick, leaving Udinese goalkeeper Maduka Okoye with no chance. This goal turned the tide of the match and put Hellas Verona one step closer to securing the three points.
Despite the defeat, Udinese had their share of moments, and their pressing strategy seemed to create confusion within Verona’s defense. They continued to dominate possession yet lacked clinical finishing. The match could have easily concluded with=standing ovations had Udinese found their form to score. A total of four yellow cards were handed to Udinese, indicative of their aggressive style, with notable cautions to players like Iker Bravo and Arthur Atta.
When the final whistle blew, Hellas Verona celebrated their hard-fought win, taking the score to 1-0. The victory allows Hellas Verona to lift themselves out of the shadows and claim much-needed points, now holding 29 points in the Serie A table, compared to Udinese's 40.
Afterward, the coach of Udinese, Kosta Runjaic, reflected on the game, emphasizing the need for improvement in the finishing department, as he noted, "We had our chances, but we need to be more clinical. Football is about putting the ball in the net, and we missed the opportunity today." On the other hand, Hellas Verona’s manager, Paolo Zanetti, praised his players for their resilience, stating, "The team showed great spirit today; we needed this win to keep fighting against relegation."
Both teams now look forward to their next fixtures, with Udinese set to visit Inter Milan aiming to bounce back from this loss and maintain their efforts for higher placement in Serie A. Hellas Verona will look to build on this momentum when they face Parma, hoping to climb even higher up the standings.