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

After progressing to the Coppa Italia quarter-finals and seeing off Fiorentina in the league, Jose Mourinho's men meet a side they have yet to lose against in the top flight.

Match preview

Following a fightback to draw with Milan and a subsequent cup win over Genoa, a Roma side apparently rejuvenated after the winter break fully capitalised on home advantage to take this year's tally to seven points from a possible nine last Sunday.

Once Fiorentina full-back Dodo foolishly picked up his second booking midway through the first half, the Viola's hopes of victory were all but extinct, and Paulo Dybala - a major factor in Roma's recent revival - struck twice to secure success at Stadio Olimpico.

Despite being sidelined by injury ahead of the World Cup, Dybala not only went on to taste global glory with Argentina but has now topped his goals tally up to 10 since signing for the Giallorossi in the summer.

That 'La Joya'-inspired win in the capital further distanced a potential rival for a top-six finish and pulled Mourinho's men level with arch-rivals Lazio - within just four points of second spot.

While often found wanting against Calcio's elite, Roma remain ruthless against also-rans, and no side has earned more Serie A points against teams in the bottom half of the standings so far (25, matching Inter and Napoli's totals).

Therefore, Spezia stand in line to be their latest such victims, particularly as the Giallorossi have gone undefeated through their last six away matches and have never been beaten by the Ligurians in Serie A.

After having avoided defeat in their only two previous games against Sunday's visitors - both in the Coppa Italia - Spezia have lost three of their following four since earning promotion to the top flight.

Their chances of turning around such a streak are improved, though, by a newfound defensive resilience in Serie A - even if that did not translate to the cup in midweek, when a much-changed side slumped out in the last 16.

After a goalless draw against Lecce and a 1-0 win against Torino last time out, Luca Gotti's side could keep clean sheets in three successive games for the first time since reaching Calcio's top tier in 2020, and they are unbeaten in their last five league matches.

Already representing a club record in Serie A, they pulled further clear of trouble with a rare away victory in Turin, thanks to M'Bala Nzola's first-half strike from the penalty spot, which decided the game in their favour.

Spezia sit nine points clear of the drop zone as the second half of the season approaches, and though they ultimately lost 5-2 to Atalanta on Thursday to miss out on a Coppa quarter-final with Inter, they have already equalled their best points tally in the first half of a top-flight campaign with one game left to play.

Spezia Serie A form:

L

D

W

D

D

W

Spezia form (all competitions):

D

W

D

D

W

L

Roma Serie A form:

L

D

D

W

D

W

Roma form (all competitions):

W

W

W

D

W

W

Team News

After a turbulent time at his boyhood club - including being booed by his own fans - Nicolo Zaniolo may finally be on the verge of leaving Roma for the Premier League and is not expected to be in Jose Mourinho's plans this weekend.

Dutch wing-back Rick Karsdorp is out in the cold too, as he awaits a move, while fellow wide man Nicola Zalewski has a thigh problem which puts his participation in doubt; Zeki Celik and Leonardo Spinazzola may therefore occupy the visitors' flanks.

Though Georginio Wijnaldum has now returned to full training after missing several months with a fractured tibia, he is not due to return until next week at the earliest.

Up front, Tammy Abraham should partner Paulo Dybala, who has scored seven league goals this season and could reach eight halfway through a Serie A campaign for the fourth time in his Calcio career. Only four other players have done so as many times since 2010: Ciro Immobile (seven), Gonzalo Higuain (five), Mauro Icardi (five) and Antonio Di Natale (four).

Spezia, meanwhile, are set to lose Jakub Kiwior to Arsenal, just days after the Poland international started the 5-2 Coppa Italia defeat to Atalanta, and Dimitrios Nikolaou must serve a one-match ban.

Therefore, Kelvin Amian and Mattia Caldara may be drafted into the hosts' back three, or Ethan Ampadu could alternatively drop back from midfield.

Simone Bastoni's knee injury rules him out until the end of next month, while goalkeeper Jeroen Zoet is a longer-term absentee. Top scorer Mbala Nzola is fully fit and firing, though, and the striker's goals have effectively been worth more points than any other player's in Serie A this term (12 won by his nine league goals).

Spezia possible starting lineup:

Dragowski; Amian, Hristov, Caldara; Holm, Zurkowski, Ampadu, Bourabia, Reca; Gyasi, Nzola

Roma possible starting lineup:

Patricio; Mancini, Smalling, Ibanez; Celik, Cristante, Matic, Spinazzola; Pellegrini, Dybala; Abraham

We say: Spezia 1-2 Roma

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