Two of Serie A’s early form teams meet at the Stadio Friuli on Monday evening as unbeaten Udinese host a Lazio side yet to drop a point under Gennaro Gattuso.

Kosta Runjaic’s team have combined four points from their opening two league fixtures with progress in the Coppa Italia, while Lazio have beaten Bologna and Genoa without conceding. Something must give in Udine, although recent meetings between these clubs suggest separating them may prove difficult.

Runjaic has Udinese moving quickly again

Fast starts are becoming something of a habit for Udinese under Runjaic. They opened their league campaign by taking a point from ambitious Como before beating Monza 3-2, leaving them in position to reach seven points after three matches for the third successive season.

Their positive opening extends beyond Serie A. Padova were eliminated from the Coppa Italia before Wednesday’s meeting with regional rivals Venezia brought another victory. Vakoun Bayo scored twice to send Udinese through to the last 16, where Atalanta await.

For Runjaic, the challenge is to turn these encouraging opening weeks into something more durable. Udinese eventually finished 10th last season despite another impressive beginning, so progress will be measured by whether they can remain competitive once the campaign settles into its rhythm. Monday provides an early opportunity to test that ambition against a Lazio team that has begun with maximum efficiency.

The variety in Udinese’s attack has been particularly encouraging. Keinan Davis, their leading scorer last season, remains an important option, but Bayo’s midweek double has strengthened his case for a league start. Idrissa Gueye provides another alternative, while Hassane Kamara has supplied an unexpected source of goals from wing-back, scoring in both Serie A fixtures.

Runjaic therefore has decisions to make despite several absentees. Nicolò Zaniolo and Matteo Palma remain unavailable, joining Giorgi Chakvetadze and long-term absentee Alessandro Zanoli on the sidelines. Christian Kabasele, however, is back following suspension and offers additional experience in defence.

Udinese can also draw encouragement from their recent record against Monday’s opponents. They have been beaten only twice in their last 10 league encounters with Lazio, with both meetings last season ending level after late equalisers.

Frattesi has made an immediate impact on Gattuso’s Lazio

Gattuso could hardly have asked for a cleaner start to his Serie A tenure. Lazio have six points, two clean sheets and a perfect league record after victories over Bologna and Genoa. Yet those results have not been built on overwhelming attacking dominance.

Both were decided by the same man. Davide Frattesi has wasted no time establishing himself in Rome following his summer move from Inter Milan. He scored the decisive goal against Bologna and repeated the trick against Genoa, meaning the midfielder is responsible for every Lazio league goal this season.

It is an extraordinary beginning, but also raises an obvious question: where will the goals come from when Frattesi does not provide them?

Gattuso is still working through his attacking options following Boulaye Dia’s departure for Rennes. Andrea Pinamonti and Tijjani Noslin are competing to lead the line, while the arrival of Albert Gudmundsson gives Lazio another player capable of creating and finishing chances.

Frattesi should continue in an advanced midfield role, and Udinese are opponents he knows particularly well. He has scored five Serie A goals against them during his career, making this one of his most productive fixtures.

Lazio’s perfect defensive record will also be tested by an Udinese side carrying several different threats. Patric and Adam Marusic are unavailable, while Gattuso is also missing Nicolò Rovella, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru and Danilo Cataldi in midfield.

Those absences reduce Lazio’s options considerably, particularly in a game where controlling Udinese’s physicality and transitions could prove important.

History in Udine nevertheless favours the visitors. Lazio have lost only one of their previous 13 league trips to face the Friulani, winning eight.

Verdict: Udinese can interrupt Lazio’s perfect start

Lazio’s six points and two clean sheets demand respect, but the results conceal how narrow the margins have been. Frattesi has decided both league games, while Gattuso is still piecing together an attack following significant summer changes. With several midfielders unavailable, Lazio may also find it harder to establish the control they want away from home.

Udinese present a different problem to Bologna and Genoa. Runjaic’s team are unbeaten across league and cup competition, have multiple attacking options in form and have developed a useful habit of making this fixture difficult for Lazio.

The visitors’ excellent record at the Stadio Friuli prevents a home victory from looking like the obvious call, but neither does Lazio’s perfect start make them convincing favourites.

Both meetings finished level last season, and another closely contested game looks likely as Udinese preserve their unbeaten start while Lazio finally surrender their first points.

Tip

Draw.