After two games against lower-ranking opponents to start the season, the level of challenge will increase for Roma with a game away at Juventus on Saturday.
Roma have won their opening two games by the same score of 1-0, but now face a trickier test away at a ground they have found it notoriously difficult to bring positive results back from.
Juventus have frequently finished above Roma over the past decade and a bit, but both clubs have been undergoing changes more recently, which makes for intriguing futures. This game will be a good marker to see where each rival is at.
Roma will be hoping it goes better than their last game against Juventus. Back in January, they were 3-1 up but inexplicably ended up losing 4-3, despite the opponents ending the game with 10 men.
This time around, Roma will be utilising all but one member of the starting XI that recently overcame Cremonese. Nicolo Zaniolo is out due to injury, so Jose Mourinho has confirmed Nemanja Matic will make his first start for the club. Presumably, Lorenzo Pellegrini will push further forward after recently partnering Bryan Cristante in a double pivot.
Pellegrini will be playing in support of Paulo Dybala, who will be back in Turin for the first time since leaving Juventus in June. Leandro Spinazzola will also be featuring against his former side, while Wojciech Szczesny should do likewise for the opponents.
Roma will be hoping they can find a way past him to help preserve their perfect – or at least unbeaten – start to the season. That said, Juventus are yet to concede, having won one and drawn one of their opening games with clean sheets in each.
Another finely poised battle between these two foes could be in store on Saturday.
The game kicks off at 5:30pm UK time and will be live on BT Sport 2.
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