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

While Jose Mourinho's men lost to 10-man Milan just before the international break, their Tuscan counterparts suffered a third straight defeat without scoring.

Match preview

Even the introduction of much-heralded loan signing Romelu Lukaku could not raise Roma's game last time out in Serie A, as the Belgian striker played a cameo role in the Giallorossi's disappointing home loss to Milan.

Although they played for half an hour with a one-man advantage, after Fikayo Tomori was sent off, Roma were unable to unlock their visitors until second-half stoppage time, when Leonardo Spinazzola scored the hosts' only goal of a 2-1 reverse.

In their previous two seasons under Jose Mourinho, the capital club won both of their first two Serie A matches, but as they seek to crack the top four this term following successive sixth-placed finishes, a slower start has already undermined that aim.

Mourinho may now have half an eye on next week's Europa League opener, in which they meet Sheriff Tiraspol of Moldova, but raising Roma's game in domestic competition will be his immediate priority.

Having heavily relied on good home form last term, the Giallorossi cannot afford to let more points slip on Sunday, as they languish inside the bottom three of this season's Serie A standings, leaving much expectation resting on the shoulders of Lukaku, who has been brought to the Eternal City as something of a saviour.

With Paulo Dybala beset by injuries and Tammy Abraham sidelined long-term, the ex-Inter man may have been dropped in the deep end, but recent history suggests beating Empoli should be well within Roma's reach: they have not lost to the Tuscans in Serie A since February 2007, winning the teams' last seven meetings while scoring at least twice on each occasion.

Since their last league victory over Roma, Empoli have suffered 11 losses and drawn just three times. In fact, they have played more away matches versus the Giallorossi without ever winning than against any other side, never once keeping a clean sheet.

As if such a dire record was not enough to deter them before heading to Stadio Olimpico this weekend, the Azzurri are the sole Serie A side without any points or goals to their name so far this season.

Unless something changes in Rome, they will join Mantova (1964-65) and Padova (1994-95) as the only teams in the entire history of Italy's top flight to have lost their first four games without scoring.

Coach Paolo Zanetti is therefore under pressure to produce an upturn in results, having seen his men beaten by Verona, Monza and Juventus before the international break - in addition to being bundled out of the Coppa Italia by Serie B side Cittadella.

Empoli won just twice on the road last season, so taking points home from the capital will be a tough task - but it does not get any better for Zanetti and co next week, when Inter are their visitors at Stadio Castellani.

Roma Serie A form:

Empoli Serie A form:

Empoli form (all competitions):

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Team News

In addition to long-term absentees Tammy Abraham and Marash Kumbulla, Roma boss Jose Mourinho will be without his captain Lorenzo Pellegrini and potentially Gianluca Mancini and Renato Sanches on Sunday evening.

Both Pellegrini and Mancini were injured on international duty, so young Edoardo Bove could deputise for the former in midfield and Evan Ndicka may make his first start since signing in the summer should the latter miss out.

Set to make his full debut for the club, Romelu Lukaku has previously been involved in three goals in just 104 minutes played against Empoli - his best ratio against any club in Serie A. If Paulo Dybala is not risked from the start, the hosts could turn to either Stephan El Shaarawy or Andrea Belotti to support Lukaku up front.

Empoli, meanwhile, travel south with just one notable absentee, as Elia Caprile's ankle injury is expected to rule the goalkeeper out for a further month.

The visitors have failed to fire in the final third this season, with veteran striker Francesco Caputo scoring their only competitive goal in the Coppa Italia defeat to Cittadella.

Mattia Destro, Matteo Cancellieri and Emmanuel Gyasi are Paulo Zanetti's main options should he opt to shake up his front line, and Nicolo Cambiaghi - who has not found the net in any of his last six Serie A appearances - would most likely make way.

Roma possible starting lineup:

Patricio; Ndicka, Smalling, Llorente; Kristensen, Bove, Cristante, Aouar, Spinazzola; Dybala, Lukaku

Empoli possible starting lineup:

Berisha; Bereszynski, Ismajli, Luperto, Pezzella; Maleh, Marin, Fazzini; Baldanzi, Caputo, Cambiaghi

We say: Roma 2-1 Empoli

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