Roma vs Fiorentina - Competition: Italian Serie A
AS Roma’s 1-3 win at Empoli last weekend marked the occasion of their sixth
consecutive victory in Serie A under Luciano Spalletti. The team has
been rejuvenated since the change of coach, having scored 17 goals and
conceded only seven. Their only loss during the last 13 league matches
was against the defending champions Juve, who beat them 1-0 at the
Juventus Stadium. The Giallorossi currently occupy third spot by virtue
of their superior goal difference over Fiorentina, so this match is a
six pointer!
Vice-captain De Rossi is the only absentee from the Giallorossi squad. Spalletti is likely to play once again with Stephan El Shaarawy as false nine, with both Edin Dzeko and captain Francesco Totti on the bench. Radja Nainggolan has recovered from the muscular problem sufffered during the game at Empoli and should be available to play here.
Vice-captain De Rossi is the only absentee from the Giallorossi squad. Spalletti is likely to play once again with Stephan El Shaarawy as false nine, with both Edin Dzeko and captain Francesco Totti on the bench. Radja Nainggolan has recovered from the muscular problem sufffered during the game at Empoli and should be available to play here.
Fiorentina team have gone seven matches without defeat in Italian Serie A and most recently held free-scoring Napoli to a 1-1 draw in Tuscany, just four days after comprehensive Europa League defeat away to Tottenham. It's their third crucial game in the space of eight days and they might be suffering from fatigue following a very intense month.
Mauro Zarate is still out with a ban despite the appeal. As consequence Cristian Tello, Federico Bernardeschi and Borja Valero are expected to feature behind Nikola Kalinic. On-loan Leicester full-back Yohan Benalouane is currently on Fiorentina's treatment table
In the reverse match earlier in the season the Giallorossi secured a 2-0 away win. Last season’s encounters saw Roma easily win 2-0 at the Stadio Olimpico in Italian Serie A , but the Viola won 3-0 in Rome in the Europa League. ASRoma’s home fixtures in Serie A have averaged more than three goals per game this term. Plus, there have been goals at both ends in each of Fiorentina’s last five league matches. Anyway, this could be a hard-fought match and we expect few goals to be scored.
Roma last 5 matches:
07/02/16 Roma 2 – 1 Sampdoria12/02/16 Carpi 1 – 3 Roma
17/02/16 Roma 0 – 2 Real Madrid
21/02/16 Roma 5 – 0 Palermo
27/02/16 Empoli 1 – 3 Roma
Fiorentina last 5 matches:
14/02/16 Fiorentina 2 – 1 Inter
18/02/16 Fiorentina 1 – 1 Tottenham
21/02/16 Atalanta 2 – 3 Fiorentina
25/02/16 Tottenham 3 – 0 Fiorentina
29/02/16 Fiorentina 1 – 1 Napoli
18/02/16 Fiorentina 1 – 1 Tottenham
21/02/16 Atalanta 2 – 3 Fiorentina
25/02/16 Tottenham 3 – 0 Fiorentina
29/02/16 Fiorentina 1 – 1 Napoli
Date: 4 March 2016 - Time: 19:45 GMT
Venue: Stadio Olimpico, Roma
Venue: Stadio Olimpico, Roma
