Roma will make it five wins in a row for the first time under Paulo Fonseca if they can beat CFR Cluj on Thursday.
Roma extended their fine run of form with a 3-0 win over Parma upon their return to Serie A action. Now, their Europa League group campaign resumes.
The Giallorossi are top of their group after three games, and will move on to 10 points if they beat Cluj tonight. It would practically guarantee qualification to the Round of 32.
In the reverse fixture, Roma claimed a convincing 5-0 win at Stadio Olimpico – the biggest victory Fonseca has ever guided the club to in Europe. Now, he has the chance to set another record.
The coach has never won five games in a row with Roma, but could do so by beating Cluj. If he does so, he will be the first man to lead Roma to five straight wins since Eusebio Di Francesco did so between October and November 2017.
It will not be a straight-forward encounter, though. Fonseca is having to deal with an injury crisis at the back. His first-choice back three of Chris Smalling, Roger Ibanez and Gianluca Mancini all have injuries, while Marash Kumbulla is positive for Covid-19 and Federico Fazio has only just recovered from the virus.
That leaves Juan Jesus as the only recognised senior centre-back in the squad. Bryan Cristante will have to play alongside him in defence again, and Fonseca may switch to a back four.
Embed from Getty ImagesFonseca could continue with the back three, but he would have to use a young player to do so. Full-back Riccardo Calafiori, who made his Serie A debut on the final day of last season, is likely to start. However, it seems the 18-year-old will play instead of Leonardo Spinazzola at left-back, which still leaves one space in the back three.
Primavera captain Filippo Tripi is in the squad, but has never played for the senior team. However, given that Roma have an important game against Napoli at the weekend, perhaps Fonseca will put his faith in a lesser seen player to provide cover.
Further forward, Roma have more options. Edin Dzeko is back in the squad after recovering from Covid-19, but Borja Mayoral will continue up front. Fonseca has confirmed that Dzeko will come on at some point, though.
Midfielders Amadou Diawara and Lorenzo Pellegrini are also present, after coming on as substitutes for the first time since testing negative in the Parma game.
If Roma’s makeshift defence can keep a clean sheet, it would be their third in a row in this competition. They have not boasted such a run in Europe since 2007.
Roma have also never lost in Romania before, so will be hoping to keep that up. The game kicks off at 8pm UK time and will be available to watch on the BT Sport website.
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