Boulaye Dia snatched a point for Salernitana after the Lazar Samardzic opener, but the Guillermo Ochoa saves prevented Udinese taking more of a lead.
The hosts started their campaign with a 2-2 thriller away to Roma and were still missing Flavius Daniliuc, but added new buy Jovane Cabral to the bench. The Friulani lost 3-0 to Juventus and then sold Beto to Everton, adding to the absentee list with Simone Pafundi, Brenner, Gerard Deulofeu, Adam Masina, Kingsley Ehizibue and Enzo Ebosse.
Guillermo Ochoa smothered long-range Sandi Lovric and Walace strikes, while Lorenzo Pirola blasted wide after Marco Silvestri gave it away cheaply.
Samar Lazardzic’s effort was deflected off target and Emil Bohinen’s curler skimmed the crossbar before Lorenzo Lucca’s header on a corner forced a save out of Ochoa.
Moments later, Ochoa to claw away another Udinese corner that took a double deflection, including off Pirola.
Florian Thauvin’s ferocious angled drive stung the Mexico international’s gloves and Udinese finally broke through when Lucca knocked down a cross for Samardzic to smash in off the ground from 14 yards. It was his first start since the transfer to Inter collapsed over the summer.
Samardzic then set up Lovric for a snooker shot that Ochoa got down to fingertip around the base of the far post.
All those Ochoa saves proved crucial, because Salernitana were able to equalise with one of their few genuine scoring opportunities. A long throw-in was knocked on and Antonio Candreva timed the through ball perfectly for Boulaye Dia to spring the offside trap and beat Silvestri at the near post.
Agustin Martegani came off the bench and unleashed a swerving strike from the edge of the area that Silvestri flew to palm out of the near top corner, as suddenly Salernitana came to life.
Silvestri denied Candreva at the back stick too for a stalemate in Salerno.
