Following the shock removal of controversial head coach Jose Mourinho, Roma host Hellas Verona at Stadio Olimpico on Saturday evening.
Last week's loss to AC Milan was the final straw for the Giallorossi's owners, who now hope to surge up the Serie A standings under a returning hero.
Match preview
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With the capital club lying ninth in Serie A after their seventh league defeat of the season, Jose Mourinho was finally forced to bid an emotional farewell to the Roma fans who had backed him through many ups and downs since his arrival in 2021.
Sunday's 3-1 loss to Milan at San Siro followed hot on the heels of last week's Coppa Italia exit to bitter rivals Lazio, and Mourinho's consistent failure to get the better of Italy's other major clubs ultimately saw him receive his marching orders.
Despite reaching two European finals and securing some overdue silverware, the Giallorossi's American owners - the Friedkin family - were sufficiently dissatisfied to wield the axe, and they moved quickly to appoint former midfield maestro Daniele De Rossi as interim boss until the end of the season.
De Rossi played 616 times for the club during his impressive playing career, so the new man in charge will certainly have an instant rapport with Roma's passionate fanbase - even if his managerial CV remains modest.
Having managed just one win from their past five matches - against Serie B side Cremonese in the Coppa Italia - Roma have some catching up to do in order to secure a top-six finish, so maintaining their home form is essential.
At Stadio Olimpico this season, they have secured 21 points from a possible 30, and this weekend they will aim to prolong an unbeaten streak on home turf that dates all the way back to September.
Setting the tone for a difficult domestic campaign, which has been hampered by several losses on the road, the Giallorossi lost their first away fixture of the season in Verona, so they now seek revenge against a club they last lost to in Rome more than 50 years ago.
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Verona may have been beaten in no fewer than 20 of their last 26 away games versus Roma, drawing all the others, but August's 2-1 win at Stadio Bentegodi sets them up for a crack at completing the league double over the Eternal City side for the first time since 1969.
Ondrej Duda opened the scoring that day, while star striker Cyril Ngonge was also on the scoresheet, but there had been little else to cheer for fans of the Gialloblu to cheer about until last week's 2-1 triumph over Empoli.
After back-to-back defeats against last-placed Salernitana and league leaders Inter Milan, Hellas were in dire need of three points from their first home fixture of 2024; goals from Milan Djuric and Napoli-bound Ngonge proved enough to secure victory against a direct survival rival, although Marco Baroni's men remain deeply embroiled in the danger zone.
Verona occupy 18th place on 17 points, but there are now several teams dangling just above them, so a good run of results could instigate a rapid ascent of the standings.
However, Hellas have posted two draws, seven losses and just one win on the road this term: ending a nine-match winless streak away from home will now be their aim against opponents in turmoil.
Team News
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Daniele De Rossi has not definitively clarified whether he will alter Roma's shape or initially stick with Jose Mourinho's tried-and-trusted three-man defence, but one player certain to feature if passed fit is Paulo Dybala.
The mercurial forward is set to make himself available this weekend, after missing last week's loss in Milan with another muscular injury, and should start behind the hosts' leading marksman Romelu Lukaku. The latter, on eight league goals this season, has faced Verona four times in Serie A without scoring.
De Rossi's options are compromised by the continuing absences of Tammy Abraham, Chris Smalling and Renato Sanches, while Gianluca Mancini and Bryan Cristante are still suspended following their red cards in the derby defeat to Lazio; Evan Ndicka is away representing hosts Ivory Coast at the Africa Cup of Nations.
Meanwhile, Verona have seen regular starters Cyril Ngonge and Josh Doig head towards the departure door, as the club's financial woes continue, and they will also have several players banned on Saturday.
Darko Lazovic, Ondrej Duda and Diego Coppola must all serve suspensions, so Marco Baroni may turn to Pawel Dawidowicz and Bruno Amione to cover in defence.
In the absence of Ngonge, Jordi Mboula or Riccardo Saponara could support the visitors' five-goal top scorer Milan Djuric up front.
Roma possible starting lineup:
Patricio; Karsdorp, Huijsen, Llorente, Spinazzola; Pellegrini, Paredes, Bove; El Shaarawy, Dybala; Lukaku
Hellas Verona possible starting lineup:
Montipo; Tchatchoua, Dawidowicz, Magnani, Amione; Serdar, Folorunsho; Mboula, Suslov, Saponara; Djuric
We say: Roma 3-1 Hellas Verona
Both teams are decimated by absences, but Roma have been freed from the shackles of Jose Mourinho's pragmatic approach and can win over their aggrieved fans with three much-needed points. Verona not only struggle on the road, but their record in Rome is also quite awful.
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Top tip
Jonathan O'Shea
