Romavs.Hellas Verona

While the Giallorossi have gone 16 league games without defeat following last week's derby draw, Verona's own late-season form is edging them closer to survival.

Match preview

Roma met old foes Lazio for a crucial Derby della Capitale last weekend, with both bitter rivals embroiled in the fight for a top-four finish.

The capital clubs ultimately stayed side by side in the Serie A standings, as Matias Soule's superb strike salvaged a point for the Giallorossi, keeping them within two of their sixth-placed opponents.

Incidentally, Roma have now scored nine league goals from outside the box this season - including Soule's Rome derby stunner - and they have been finding the net freely since Claudio Ranieri's return.

Under the veteran coach, they have won 11 and drawn five in the league since last tasting top-flight defeat - though they did bow out of both the Europa League and Coppa Italia before the latter stages.

Back in the mix for a top-four finish, Roma's revival has been impressive, with Ranieri enjoying a fine third stint at his boyhood club before taking up a director's role in the summer.

This week, he could match Luciano Spalletti's 17-match unbeaten streak of 2016; having dropped just four points in their last nine games at Stadio Olimpico, the hosts will expect to keep their run rolling.

Without a win from their last 27 meetings with the Giallorossi in Rome - losing some 21 times in the process - Serie A strugglers Verona are also up against precedent.

Yet, they came out on top in November's reverse fixture - a five goal thriller at Stadio Bentegodi - and have therefore won four of the teams' last nine league contests, matching their entire tally from the previous 46.

Before making their latest trip to the capital, the Gialloblu's improvement since winter turned to spring has seen them edge clear of danger. Paolo Zanetti's side have drawn all of their last three games - having won three of the previous seven - and they now have an eight-point buffer to the drop zone.

After playing out a goalless draw with Genoa last week, their last four first halves away from home have ended 0-0 - a sure sign Zanetti is finally getting to grips with his team's defensive deficiencies.

Despite being part of Serie A's leakiest back line, goalkeeper Lorenzo Montipo has now kept eight clean sheets in the current campaign, already matching his personal best.

Collectively, Hellas last managed more shut-outs five years ago, but they will do well to stop Roma on Saturday night.

Roma Serie A form:

W

W

W

W

D

D

Roma form (all competitions):

W

L

W

W

D

D

Hellas Verona Serie A form:

L

L

W

D

D

D

Team News

Roma will be without main man Paulo Dybala until next season, while Claudio Ranieri also has a number of fitness concerns to manage.

Captain Lorenzo Pellegrini hurt his shoulder during the derby, Saud Abdulhamid is still struggling with a thigh injury, and Danish defender Victor Nelsson has been training separately due to a foot problem.

In Dybala's absence, top scorer Artem Dovbyk - Serie A's player of the month for March - should receive support from rising star Matias Soule, who found the net last week and has previously scored twice against Verona.

Meanwhile, Hellas have Casper Tengstedt, Abdou Harroui and Amin Sarr on the sidelines, but Tomas Suslov and Cheikh Niasse should return.

With Sarr and six-goal striker Tengstedt both unavailable, the visitors will depend on Daniel Mosquera to lead their attack, possibly linking up with chief creator Suslov.

Roma possible starting lineup:

Svilar; Celik, Mancini, Ndicka; Saelemaekers, Kone, Paredes, Angelino; Soule, Baldanzi; Dovbyk

Hellas Verona possible starting lineup:

Montipo; Ghilardi, Coppola, Valentini; Tchatchoua, Duda, Dawidowicz, Bernede, Bradaric; Suslov; Mosquera

We say: Roma 2-0 Hellas Verona

Verona's first task will be surviving the first half: they have conceded the most Serie A goals both in the opening 15 minutes (10) and the first half-hour (25); shipping a league-high 61% of their goals before the break.

Written by

Jonathan O'Shea

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