Good evening! It's just under half an hour until kickoff at Stadio Friuli, where Udinese and Fiorentina will be hoping to establish a lead in the first of two legs of this Coppa Italia semi final. Let's start with a look at the team news.

UDINESE STARTING XI: Scuffet, Bubnjic, Domizzi, Heurtaux, Widmer, Gabriel Silva, Allan, Pinzi, Pereyra, Di Natate, Nico Lopez

FIORENTINA STARTING XI: Neto, Rodriguez, Diakite, Savic, Pasqual, Borja Valero, Pizarro, Mati Fernandez, Vargas, Joaquin, Matri

Udinese have leading goalscorer Antonio di Natale leading the attack. The visitors are without their top scorer, Giuseppe Rossi, but Borja Valera and Joaquin are both included.

The visitors head into tonight's game off the back of a surprise defeat to Cagliari at the weekend, which leaves them outside the Champions League places in the Serie A table, ending a six-match unbeaten run in the league.

Udinese have struggled for form in the league this season, but have proved a threat in this competition, knocking Inter Milan and AC Milan out of the tournament in earlier rounds, and have already beaten tonight's opponents this season.

Ahead of this evening's game, Fiorentina coach Vincenzo Montella told reporters: "Against Cagliari we didn't play to the standard we are used to. We didn't make the most of our chances and Cagliari deserved the win. Sometimes defeats are healthy in order to put things right and I hope this will be the case."

Following Udinese's win over Bologna in Serie A at the weekend, Francesco Guidolin told reporters: "We really needed that victory after our poor run of form. It was important to climb up in the standings and to produce a good performance away from home. Now we return to Udine hoping to build on this result and looking for another good performance against Fiorentina."

These two sides have a contrasting history in this competition. Fiorentina are six-time champions, but Udinese have reached the final just once before.

PREDICTION! With the players due to take to the pitch in the next couple of minutes, it's time for a quick prediction. Neither side can secure a place in the final this evening, but both will be keen to make sure they are still in contention for next week's second leg. With cold and wet conditions at the stadium, I can see Udinese clinching a 2-1 win this evening.

The players are making their way out of the tunnel ready for kickoff.

Udinese get the game underway.

Fiorentina are applying all of the early pressure, with Mati Fernandez and Joaquin looking to test teenage goalkeeper Simone Scuffet early on, but the home side's defenders make sure that the danger is cleared.

Nico Lopez finds Pinzi on the edge of the area as Udinese looks for an early goal. The ball eventually falls to Di Natate in the centre of the box, but the striker's powerful finish of blocked by Pasqual.

Both sides are looking sharp in the opening stages of this match and are continuing to attack. The hosts currently have the ball, with Gabriel Silva looking to cross in for Di Natale, but Neto is able to gather the ball for Fiorentina.

Fiorentina are on the counter-attack, and look to be in a strong position, with number in the box waiting for a through ball, but Fernandez gets impatient on the edge of the penalty area and tries to blast it in, but he finish was always rising, and ends up in the crowd.

The two teams are continuing to share possession fairly evenly, and both seem very committed this evening, but neither have created much in front of goal so far.

Udinese look to catch the visitors out with a quick break form the back. The long ball drops nicely for Silva out wide, but his cross in from the left is just tipped away by Neto. That move has certainly livened up the home fans though!

Valero is swiftly on the counter for Fiorentina, but gives away a free kick inside the box when he tangles with Allan. That's a wasted opportunity for the visitors, and could prove costly, as Udinese are straight back down the other end.

CHANCE! Nico Lopez has what has probably been the best chance of the match so far, striking the ball on the half-volley from just inside the box, but it's deflected behind by one of his own teammates.

CHANCE! Udinese let their concentration drop a little at the back, and are almost punished for their error by the visitors. Vargas unleashes a powerful effort from the right hand side of the box, but it's sliced just wide.

Silva continues to look sharp for the hosts, but once again his delivery into the box is easily collected by Neto. The Brazilian just isn't getting enough support up front for Udinese.

A mistake by Fiorentina almost lets Allan in for a shot for the home side, but on loan defender Modibo Diakite manages to make the clearance, launching Joaquin on an attack down the other end of the pitch, but it comes to nothing. Fiorentina have looked the stronger of the two sides defensively this evening, but haven't shown a great deal in attack yet. They're getting the ball forward, but just aren't testing their opponents inside the box.

CHANCE! Following a quick break from the home side, Pinzi volleys the ball in from outside the box, forcing a solid save from Neto. Lopez tries to slot the rebound in, but it finishes inches wide of the near post.

CHANCE! Joaquin immediately applies pressure down the other end, beating two defender before unleashing a shot, but it's far too high, leaving Scuffet untroubled in the Udinese goal.

Fiorentina give the ball away inside the Udinese box, and Roberto Pereyra makes a superb run towards the box for the hosts. He thinks about taking on the shot himself, but spots the team's top goalscorer in space, and selflessly pulls it back for Di Natale, who is left with an easy tap in.

PENALTY APPEAL! There's drama down the other end as Fiorentina believe that they should have a penalty after the ball appeared to strike Basta on the hand, but the referee isn't interested. Borja Valero picks up a yellow card in the aftermath for protesting.

CHANCE! Going a goal down seems to have woken Fiorentina up a bit, as Matri finds his way in, but Scuffet bravely comes off his line and dives at the ball, taking a foot in the face in the process, but it's enough to keep the ball out of the back of the net.

What a goal from Juan Vargas to level the scores for Fiorentina! The midfielder dodges a tackle from Di Natale and strikes the ball first time from 25 yards out, and it's in the back of the net before Simone Scuffet has had time to react in the Udinese goal. That really is a sensational strike by the Spaniard.

Antonio di Natale gave the home side the lead, but a fantastic strike from Borja Vargas just before half time gives Fiorentina an away goal and leaves them level at the break.

An away goal could prove crucial if the teams are still level at the end of next week's second leg. Incidentally, the winner of this tie will face either Napoli or Roma in the final.

The visitors may feel that they should be further in front, having had an appeal for a penalty turned down shortly before finding the equaliser. It did look like Basta's hand touched the ball, but it's hard to say whether or not it was deliberate.

The players are making their way back out for the second half.

Fiorentina get the second half underway.

SUB! There's big news for the hosts at the start of the second half as Bruno Fernandes replaces Antonio di Natale for the second 45 minutes.

Fiorentina make a positive start to the second half, with Matri looking to cause problems inside the penalty area early on, but he lifts he shot just high.

Matri is looking really determined since the restart, getting the better of Domizzi around 30 yards out before trying to take the ball into the box for a shot, but he loses control, allowing Udinese to make the clearance.

Fernandes manages to win a corner with his first touch of the ball for the hosts, but it's swiftly cleared by Fiorentina, who immediately look to make a move down the other end.

BOOKING! Fiorentina's goalscorer, Borja Vargas, earns himself a yellow card for a sliding challenge on Bruno Fernandes.

Udinese haven't looked as lively as they did in the first half, but Lopez manages to find his way through for the hosts. However, he can't keep the ball under control, and lets it go behind for a goal kick.

Allan brings down Pasqual around 30 yards out, leaving Fiorentina will a good chance to set up a second. Vargas, having already scored from range once tonight, goes for goal, and Scuffet initially looks to have spilled the save, but he manages to hold on at the second time of asking.

CHANCE! A high ball into the box drops for Joaquin, but Silva manages to get in his way and make the block for the hosts, although I'm not sure how much Silva knew about his defensive contribution.

CHANCE! It's all Fiorentina at the moment as Joaquin picks out Vargas with a superb cross, but the scorer of the equaliser couldn't quite keep the shot on target.

SUB! The home side make their second change of the match, with Nico Lopez making way for Luis Muriel.

Muriel almost has a chance to put the hosts back in front within seconds of coming off the bench, but he scuffs his shot, allowing Fiorentina to make the clearance.

SUB! Joaquin is heading off for the visitors with Juan Cuadrado taking his place.

It's still the visitors doing all the pressing, and they've got another corner. Matri almost gets a chance for the visitors, but the referee blows for a free kick to Udinese.

SUB! Valero exits for Fiorentina as Anderson comes on to make his third appearances for the team since joining on loan from Manchester United.

SUB! The changes are coming thick and fast at the moment as the home side make their last change, bringing Emmanuel Badu on for Giampiero Pinzi. That should give the hosts a pick more pace in the middle.

Udinese certainly haven't given up on this match yet, but Fiorentina are doing just enough to stop the home side posing any kind of threat.

From nowhere, Bruno Fernandes finds a brilliant through ball for Muriel, but the striker just misreads the wet surface.

Well it's against the run of play but Udinese won't care! Luis Muriel wins the ball back in midfield and sends a rocket past Neto. That's on a par with the fantastic finish from Valero in the first half.

Udinese are suddenly resurgent, and quickly applying pressure as they look for a third. Having conceded an away goal to Fiorentina, another goal now would leave them in a strong position ahead of the second leg.

Vargas tries to add a second for the visitors, but Udinese get numbers back and do just enough to block his powerful strike.

SUB! The Fiorentina goalscorer Borja Valero's game is over, as Ryder Matos takes his place for the last few minutes.

Fiorentina have three minutes of stoppage time if they want to make sure that they are level going into next week's second leg.

BOOKING! Luis Muriel picks up a late booking for a clumsy challenge on Matos.

So Udinese lead at the end of the first leg, but Fiorentina won't be too disappointed, having secured an away goal. It sets the tie up nicely for the second leg.

That's all from this match, but stick around for reports and reaction to all of tonight's matches, and join us again for the second leg next week. Until then, thanks for joining me this evening, goodbye.