Roma are decimated by injuries, bans and off the field tension, so Borja Mayoral and Carles Perez lead the attack against their nemesis Spezia.
It kicks off at 14.00 GMT, you can follow all the build-up and action as it happens from today’s four Serie A games on the LIVEBLOG.
Roma are decimated by injuries, bans and off the field tension, so Borja Mayoral and Carles Perez lead the attack against their nemesis Spezia.
It kicks off at 14.00 GMT, you can follow all the build-up and action as it happens from today’s four Serie A games on the LIVEBLOG.
These teams already met on Tuesday night in a crazy Coppa Italia Round of 16 tie, which saw Spezia lead 2-0 after 25 minutes, a 2-2 draw forced extra time, then Roma had Gianluca Mancini and Pau Lopez sent off before losing 4-2.
They would’ve been eliminated anyway, as a touchline mix-up saw the Giallorossi make six substitutions rather than the allotted five.
Because of that howler, two members of staff were sacked, prompting a rebellion from the squad, led by Edin Dzeko.
Officially, Dzeko, Federico Fazio and Juan Jesus are out of the squad today because of injury, but Sky Sport Italia insist it was a disciplinary measure.
Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Pedro have muscular issues, Antonio Mirante, Riccardo Calafiori, Javier Pastore and Nicolò Zaniolo are still inured, with Mancini suspended.
Coach Paulo Fonseca’s job is hanging by a thread and he has few options to choose from, with Lorenzo Pellegrini, Carles Perez and Borja Mayoral upfront.
Spezia are brimming with confidence after holding Torino to a 0-0 draw last week when down to 10 men for over 80 minutes, then knocking Roma out of the Coppa Italia.
Curiously, these clubs have met only twice before, both in the Coppa with Spezia winning in extra time or penalties.
Luca Vignali is suspended, with top score M’Bala Nzola, Sala Ferrer, Federico Mattiello and Capradossi injured.
Riccardo Saponara bagged a brace on Tuesday, but he is not even on the bench after failing a fitness test.
Roma: Pau Lopez; Ibanez, Kumbulla, Smalling; Karsdorp, Villar, Veretout, Spinazzola; Pellegrini, Perez; Mayoral
Spezia: Provedel; Dell’Orco, Terzi, Chabot, Marchizza; Estevez, Agoume, Maggiore; Gyasi, Piccoli, Farias
Ref: Pairetto