Due to a disappointing transfer campaign both these teams can consider this opener an early relegation dogfight.
There was bad news for Parma almost immediately as Brazilian World Cup winner Junior was stretchered off following a clash with Alberto.
Roberto Muzzi's free kick forced the first save of the match and on the resulting corner Martin Jorgensen nodded just wide.
It was the visitors who broke the deadlock when new buy Adrian Mutu's centre was toe-poked in by giant ex-Inter striker Adriano.
Parma should by rights have doubled their lead mere moments later when Hidetoshi Nakata sprung the offside trap, but his angled drive skimmed the far post with the 'keeper beaten.
Udinese had a wonderful scoring opportunity at the dawn of the second half, but Muzzi's first touch let him down. The equaliser eventually arrived when Brazilian Alberto was left completely unmarked to tap in Jorgensen's centre following some good approach play.
Substitute and Czech Republic international Marek Jankulovski boosted Udinese's attacking potential. Eleven minutes from time he set up a good chance for Carsten Jancker, but the World Cup star incredibly fired wide.
Adriano thought he had won it for Parma in the final minute, but goalkeeper Morgan De Sanctis made a miraculous save on the Brazilian from close range.
