Roma host Hellas Verona at the Stadio Olimpico on Sunday afternoon in Serie A as Luciano Spalletti returns for a second spell on the Giallorossi bench.
Following two disappointing draws against Chievo and AC Milan, club president James Pallotta decided to sack Rudi Garcia and replace him with the man that was the Giallorossi’s coach between 2005 and 2009.
Spalletti picks up a team that is psychologically weakened after being built to win the title but are currently sitting in fifth place after picking up just seven points in their last six fixtures.
On Sunday Roma host the only the league’s bottom club, as the Gialloblu are yet to win a game after having gone the whole first half of the season without managing to beat any their opponents. Hellas also changed coach – back in early December – but not even Gigi Delneri was able to invert the trend, with the club already very close to a sure relegation at the end of the season, something President Maurizio Setti said “would not be something to be ashamed of.”
Last season’s encounters saw the Giallorossi win at the Olimpico thanks to goals by Alessandro Florenzi and Mattia Destro, and a draw in the return game with an own goal by Seydou Keita opening the scoring before a Francesco Totti equaliser. However, the last time the two teams met it was this season’s Serie A opening game back in August, with Bosko Jankovic scoring for the hosts, and Roma snatching a point away thanks to another Florenzi strike.
The Italian, who came third in the FIFA Puskas Award, should go back to playing in midfield with Spalletti after many games as a right-back under Garcia. He will play alongside Miralem Pjanic and Daniele De Rossi who are back in the team alongside Edin Dzeko. Spalletti will have to play without Maicon and Seydou Keita who are out due to injuries, while Francesco Totti is back in the squad.
Delneri, on the other hand, once again won’t be able to count on captain Luca Toni, who has been devastated by injuries all season. Romulo and Siligardi are also out with an injury, whilst the brand new arrival from Fiorentina, Ante Rebic, could be employed from the start.
Form Guide: Roma (D-L-W-L-L) Hellas Verona (L-L-D-D-L-L)
Expected Starting XIs:
Roma: Szczesny, Torosidis, Manolas, Rudiger, Digne, Pjanic, De Rossi, Nainggolan, Florenzi, Dzeko, Salah.
Hellas Verona: Gollini, Sala, Helander, Moras, Souprayen, Wszolek, Viviani, Hallfredsson, Emanuelson, Ionit, Pazzini.
Infographic Source: www.sporticos.com
