Preview: Monza vs. Roma - prediction, team news, lineups

The Biancorossi are unbeaten in five matches, though, and have proven particularly tough to beat on home turf.

Match preview

Just days after dramatically sealing progress to the Europa League's last 16, Roma took one step closer to next season's Champions League by beating Torino 3-2 on Monday.

Paulo Dybala - whose second goal of three came from around 25 yards out, with a left-foot strike into the bottom corner - was the catalyst at Stadio Olimpico, where fans are growing accustomed to a more entertaining brand of football.

With his match-winning hat-trick, Dybala joined Mauro Icardi on 121 goals as the fourth-highest Argentinian scorers in Serie A history - Gonzalo Higuain lies third on the list, with 125 - and kept momentum building under new boss Daniele De Rossi.

Since returning to Rome in place of Jose Mourinho, only league leaders Inter Milan have netted more times than De Rossi's attack-minded side, with the Giallorossi going from an average of 1.6 goals per game up to 2.7.

A loss to irrepressible Inter aside, they have won all of their last six Serie A fixtures, to move sixth in the standings - two points behind fifth-placed Atalanta BC and just four adrift of surprise package Bologna, who sit fourth.

There could be as many as five Italian entrants into next term's new-look Champions League, so another win would keep Roma front of the chasing pack, while warming them up nicely for next week's Europa League clash with Brighton and Hove Albion.

Having taken only one point off Roma since their promotion to Calcio's top tier in 2022, Monza will be looking for their first league win over the capital club on Saturday evening.

The Biancorossi recently defeated regional rivals AC Milan for the first time ever, and after seeing off lowly Salernitana last week, they now seek another major scalp.

Having scored four times against 10-man Milan, Raffaele Palladino's men were made to wait at Stadio Arechi, where late goals from Daniel Maldini and captain Matteo Pessina secured a 2-0 victory.

While Palladino came out on top just two times in 10 meetings with new Roma boss De Rossi during their playing days, he has established himself as a head coach of note over the past 18 months and will relish the tactical battle this weekend.

With 11 points taken from the last possible 15, Monza may fancy their chances of halting Roma's run - aiding their pursuit of a top-half finish in the process.

Monza Serie A form:

L

W

D

D

W

W

Roma Serie A form:

W

W

W

L

W

W

Roma form (all competitions):

W

L

D

W

W

W

Team News

Given a tough draw in continental competition, where Brighton await next Thursday, Daniele De Rossi could make some changes to the Roma XI that started against Torino: Romelu Lukaku may return to the lineup, but it remains to be seen whether De Rossi reverts to his preferred 4-3-3 formation.

Though Chris Smalling finally made his first start since September, compatriot Tammy Abraham still has several weeks of recovery from his ACL injury ahead. Defensive duo Diego Llorente (head) and Rick Karsdorp (muscular) are major doubts.

Up front, 11-goal leading scorer Paulo Dybala should join Lukaku, who has nine Serie A strikes this season: one more would make it the first time since 2016-17 - with Edin Dzeko (29) and Mohamed Salah (15) - that two Roma strikers have reached double figures.

Meanwhile, Monza must make at least one change on Saturday, as Armando Izzo misses out due to suspension - Danilo D'Ambrosio should deputise in the hosts' back three.

Gianluca Caprari is sidelined for the rest of the season with a serious knee injury, while Patrick Ciurria and Samuele Vignato are also unavailable.

Goalkeeper Michele Di Gregorio has routinely impressed with a series of spectacular saves, and the ex-Inter stopper will be seeking his 50th clean sheet for Monza in all competitions.

Monza possible starting lineup:

Di Gregorio; D'Ambrosio, Mari, A. Carboni; Birindelli, Pessina, Gagliardini, Mota; Colpani, V. Carboni; Djuric

Roma possible starting lineup:

Svilar; Kristensen, Mancini, Smalling, Angelino; Cristante, Paredes, Pellegrini; Dybala, Lukaku, El Shaarawy

We say: Monza 2-2 Roma

Previews by email