Sassuolo v Roma – Preview: Giallorossi Demand Instant Comeback

Date: 28th April 2015 at 5:06pm
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Roma travel to Sassuolo on Wednesday evening knowing that they need to win to keep the pressure on rivals Lazio in the race for the Champions League spots.

The Giallorossi have endured a torrid recent spell which has seen their title hopes evaporate, but retain their Champions League aspirations. Meanwhile Sassuolo’s season is lacking direction, sitting 12 points above the relegation zone with Serie A safety all but secured for the second season in a row.

History favours the Lupi, who have never lost to the Neroverde in the sides’ three previous meetings. Both games in Rome were drawn, but in the last match at the Mapei Stadium Garcia’s side ran out comfortable 2-0 victors. Their goals that day came from Mattia Destro and Michel Bastos, neither of whom are still on the books at the Stadio Olimpico.

However, neither side enters the meeting in particularly good recent form. Roma are without a win in three outings, while Eusebio Di Francesco’s share a similar winless streak, though have not been beaten in any of their previous three home games.

Sassuolo’s Domenico Berardi will enter the match looking to add to his 11 goals to date – the youngster still has five to go to match last seasons tally, but is likely to end up as the Neroverde’s top scorer again; Adem Ljajic heads Roma’s list with eight, level pegging with the hosts’ Simone Zaza,

Garcia will be unable to call upon the services of Kevin Strootman, who will miss the rest of the season, while Maicon is also a likely absentee. With Francesco Totti having played the majority of the defeat at Inter, he may well drop to the bench for this match.

Meanwhile, Sassuolo have a long injury list including goalkeeper Gianluca Pegolo and captain Francesco Manganelli. As such, Di Francesco may well select the same side that lost to Hellas Verona on Sunday afternoon, although Antonio Floro Flores has staked his claim for a starting spot with a goal in that game.

Form Guide: Sassuolo (L-D-L-W-L-W), Roma (L-D-D-W-W-L)

Expected Starting XIs

Sassuolo: Consigli; Acerbi, Cannavaro, Peluso; Lazarevic, Missiroli, Biondini, Longhi; Zaza, Sansone, Floro Flores

Roma: De Sanctis; Holebas, Yanga-Mbiwa, Manolas, Torosidis; Nainggolan, De Rossi, Pjanic; Gervinho, Doumbia, Florenzi

 

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