Roma have Javier Pastore’s first Serie A start since September, with Justin Kluivert and Kostas Manolas back in the XI against a Cagliari side free of pressure.
It kicks off at the Stadio Olimpico at 17.00 UK time (16.00 GMT).
You can follow all the build-up and action from today’s Serie A games on the LIVEBLOG.
Roma have Javier Pastore’s first Serie A start since September, with Justin Kluivert and Kostas Manolas back in the XI against a Cagliari side free of pressure.
It kicks off at the Stadio Olimpico at 17.00 UK time (16.00 GMT).
You can follow all the build-up and action from today’s Serie A games on the LIVEBLOG.
The Giallorossi have found their footing under Coach Claudio Ranieri and are only one point behind Milan and Atalanta, who share that fourth and final Champions League spot.
Considering the Rossoneri’s poor form and the fact Atalanta are also competing for the Coppa Italia, there is still a very strong chance Roma could snatch a top four finish.
Nicolò Zaniolo and Bryan Cristante are both suspended, with Daniele De Rossi, Davide Santon and Rick Karsdorp injured, so Lorenzo Pellegrini joins Steven Nzonzi in midfield.
Kostas Manolas has passed a fitness test and starts in the back four, having picked up a muscular problem during the warm-up of last week’s Inter game.
Justin Kluivert and Stephan El Shaarawy support Edin Dzeko with Javier Pastore, who hasn’t started a Serie A match since September 26 against Frosinone.
The former Paris Saint-Germain star had a recurring calf injury and has so far flopped at the Stadio Olimpico and not played at all for over a month.
Cagliari practically secured their Serie A safety with last week’s 1-1 draw against Torino, taking them up to 40 points, so can play free of pressure.
Paolo Faragò is suspended, along with injured Lucas Castro and Fabrizio Cacciatore, but Nicolò Barella returns from his ban in a deeper role, leaving the trequartista slot behind Joao Pedro and Leonardo Pavoletti to Valter Birsa.
It’s a special game for Luca Pellegrini, who will be fired up to impress his parent club.
Cagliari have not beaten Roma since a 4-2 thriller at the Olimpico in February 2013, managing three draws from nine meetings, home and away. They haven’t even scored in their last four trips to Rome.
When these teams met in Sardinia earlier this season, it was a chaotic 2-2 draw that saw Cagliari score the equaliser when down to nine men against 11.
Roma: Mirante; Florenzi, Manolas, Fazio, Kolarov; Lorenzo Pellegrini, Nzonzi; Kluivert, Pastore, El Shaarawy; Dzeko
Cagliari: Cragno; Cacciatore, Pisacane, Ceppitelli, Luca Pellegrini; Barella, Cigarini, Ionita; Birsa; Joao Pedro, Pavoletti
Ref: Manganiello