Serie A as they look to find some consistency under new coach Luciano Spalletti.
The Giallorossi have won their last two games, away to Sassuolo and at home against Frosinone, and want a third successive win under Spalletti to continue their claim for a Champions League spot. The 56-year-old took over from Rudi Garcia on the 13th of January and has since collected seven points from four games, losing only against Juventus.
Vincenzo Montella returns to his former club off the back of a disappointing 2-2 home draw with Torino, which came courtesy of a last second goal for the Granata. Before that, the 41-year-old had seen his squad lose four games in a row following their derby victory over Genoa, losing against Juventus, Carpi, Napoli and Bologna, conceding 11 goals in the process leaving the Blucerchiati just one place ahead of the drop zone.
The last fixture between the two sides saw the Giallorossi fall 2-1 at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris, thanks to goals by Eder – now at Inter – and an own goal by Kostas Manolas. In last season’s encounter at the Olimpico, Sampdoria won 2-0 in March, and can take heart going into this game having not lost against Roma since February 2014.
Spalletti will continue his tactical revolution in the capital, displaying his classic 4-2-3-1 formation, and will most likely continue with Fancesco Totti in that false number nine position that is Spalletti’s trademark.
Radja Nainggolan is out of the game through suspension, while Daniele De Rossi is injured, forcing Spalletti to play Miralem Pjanic and Alessandro Florenzi in midfield. Lucas Digne is also sidelined with an injury, with new signing Ervin Zukanovic ready to start in his place.
Montella cannot call upon Lorenzo De Silvestri, Jacopo Sala and Modibo Dhiakite, with the first two injured and the latter banned. Therefore, Mattia Cassani will start on the right. Everyone else is available, giving the former Fiorentina manager options up front. Luis Muriel is likely to start as the lone striker, with Antonio Cassano and new signing Fabio Quagliarella ready to help later in the game.
Form Guide: Roma (D-D-L-W-W) Sampdoria (L-L-L-L-D)
Expected starting XI’s:
Roma (4-2-3-1): Szczesny; Maicon, Rudiger, Manolas, Zukanovic; Pjanic, Florenzi; Salah, Perotti, El Shaarawy; Totti.
Sampdoria (3-4-2-1): Viviano; Ranocchia, Silvestre, Moisander; Cassani, Fernando, Barreto, Dodo; Soriano, Correa; Muriel.
Infographic Source: www.sporticos.com
