Roma vs Fiorentina preview, team news, stats, line-ups and prediction

AS Roma host sixth-placed Fiorentina in a Serie A clash at the Stadio Olimpico on Sunday. With goal difference separating both clubs, either club would aim to usurp the other in the Serie A standings with a win. 

Despite experiencing some inconsistencies on both ends of November’s international break, Roma, remain at the forefront of the race for a Champions League return this season.

Their latest triumph, a thrilling 2-1 victory away at Sassuolo, showcased their resilience, and head coach, Jose Mourinho now aims to secure consecutive wins for the first time since the end of October and those with AS Roma tickets are expecting a tough game.

In their recent Serie A encounter with Sassuolo, the Giallorossi faced an early setback as Matheus Henrique gave Sassuolo a surprising lead in the 25th minute.

However, the team rallied, and Paulo Dybala leveled the score with a penalty in the 76th minute. The turnaround was complete when defender Rasmus Kristensen secured a 2-1 win, scoring late in the second half with a deflected shot inside the far post.

Sassuolo’s challenges intensified as they went down to 10 men just after the hour mark. The referee, Matteo Marcenaro, initially booked a yellow to midfielder, Danier Baloca after a heavy challenge on Roma midfielder, Leandro Paredes, but after consulting the VAR pitchside monitor, amended the decision to a red card after replays revealed the severity of the challenge.

With a climb to fifth in the table with 24 points from 14 games, Jose Mourinho’s men exerted control and determination all through the encounter at the Mapei Stadium.

The intensity of the match started unraveling after early chances fell for Dybala but Sassuolo took the lead when Domenico Berardi set up Henrique for a close-range goal. The visitors, fueled by a sizable traveling contingent, nearly leveled before halftime as Romelu Lukaku’s cross to Dybala was skillfully denied by Sassuolo goalkeeper Andrea Consigli.

In the second half, an unmarked Lukaku had another opportunity, but his shot from the edge of the box was thwarted by Consigli. Mourinho opted to strengthen Roma’s attacking options following Sassuolo’s reduced manpower, introducing Lorenzo Pellegrini and Stephen El Shaarawy.

Dybala, marking his 50th appearance for Roma, equalized with a low spot-kick inside the right-hand post after a penalty was awarded for a challenge on Kristensen. Kristensen himself sealed the victory six minutes later.

Roma’s impressive form extends beyond Serie A, as they comfortably secured a place in the Europa League knockout stage. Notably, their remarkable run of seven consecutive victories at the Stadio Olimpico, including a memorable 7-0 triumph against Empoli, underscores their prowess on home soil, a streak that dates back to September 1st.

For Fiorentina, after facing a stretch of only four victories in 10 matches spanning from late September to early November across various competitions, there have been a notable turnaround with triumphs in four of their last five games. This includes a convincing 3-0 win against Salernitana in Serie A last weekend.

Lucas Beltran and Riccardo Sottil’s goals within the first 17 minutes established Fiorentina’s dominance at home, and Giacomo Bonaventura sealed the victory with a second-half strike under Vincenzo Italiano’s guidance.

Currently positioned sixth in Serie A, Fiorentina trails fourth-placed Roma by just one point, setting the stage for a crucial encounter in their upcoming top-flight fixture on Sunday. Additionally, they recently advanced to the Coppa Italia quarter-finals, securing a 4-1 penalty victory over Parma after a 2-2 draw in regulation time.

Building on their Coppa Italia success and riding the momentum from a remarkable comeback against Parma, Fiorentina enter their next Serie A fixture with high spirits.

Their aspirations for a Champions League spot are evident, showcased by their stellar performances on both sides of November’s international break. The Viola, led by Vincenzo Italiano, have won five of their last six appearances across all competitions since November 5th. Moreover, their effortless progression to the Europa Conference League knockout stage adds to their aspirations for a significant statement on Sunday night.

Match Details

Date: 10 Dec 2023

Kick-off time: 19:45 UTC

Location: Rome, Italy

Venue: Stadio Olimpico

Referee: Antonio Rapuano

AS Roma VS Fiorentina stats

• When the two sides last clashed on May 27th, Fiorentina secured a 2-1 victory at the Stadio Artemio Franchi.
• The Viola have suffered only one defeat in their other eight encounters against Roma.
• AS Roma have achieved victory in each of their last seven consecutive home fixtures across all competitions. Similarly, Mourinho’s team have scored an impressive 21 goals in these successive home victories at the Stadio Olimpico.
• Each of the previous 14 meetings between Roma and Fiorentina concluded with more than one goal.
• Presently, Roma hold the 4th position, while Fiorentina sits in 6th place.
• In their past 42 encounters with Fiorentina, Roma emerged victorious 23 times.

Team News

Roma continue to grapple with the absence of England international Tammy Abraham, who is sidelined due to a long-term knee injury and is yet to feature in any matches this season. Joining him on the sidelines are Marash Kumbulla and former Manchester United defender Chris Smalling

In the attacking lineup, Argentina international Paulo Dybala, fresh off scoring against Sassuolo and securing back-to-back Serie A goals, will partner with the in-form Romelu Lukaku. The defensive duo of Diego Llorente and Gianluca Mancini will once again form the heart of Mourinho’s backline.

On the Fiorentina side, 26-year-old midfielder Gaetano Castrovilli remains unavailable for selection, having not made a single appearance this season after undergoing knee surgery over the summer. Former Shakhtar defender Dodo is also unavailable for the clash at the Stadio Olimpico.

Having received a rest in the previous fixture against Salernitana, attacking talisman Nicolas Gonzalez is expected to make a complete return. Lucas Beltran, who scored his first Serie A goal of the season at the Stadio Artemio Franchi last week, is set to join Gonzalez in the attacking third for Fiorentina.

Roma face the task of containing Fiorentina’s top scorer this season, Riccardo Saponara, who has netted two goals. Meanwhile, Fiorentina aim to neutralize Stephan El Shaarawy, who lead Roma in assists this season with four.

Exploiting El Shaarawy’s disciplinary record, which includes accumulating four cards this season, will be a focus for Fiorentina. On the flip side, Fiorentina’s player with the most cards this season is Riccardo Saponara, who has received two cards

Predicted starting line-up

AS Roma predicted starting line-up: Rui Patricio; Mancini, Llorente, Ndicka; Karsdorp, Cristante, Paredes, Bove, Spinazzola; Dybala, Lukaku

Fiorentina predicted starting line-up: Christensen; Kayode, Ranieri, Martinez, Parisi; Duncan, Mandragora; Gonzalez, Bonaventura, Brekalo; Nzola

Prediction

With a formidable reputation growing at the Stadio Olimpico, Roma promises an engaging encounter this weekend. Their dominance is evident in winning all of their last seven home fixtures, accompanied by an impressive tally of 21 goals in these successive triumphs. Notably, the history between Roma and Fiorentina have consistently delivered excitement, with each of the last 14 meetings concluding with more than one goal. This trend sets the stage for a similar outcome in the upcoming match.