Roma return from the international break on Sunday, looking to pick up the momentum they were building before the pause.
Roma are arguably the most in-form team in Italy. They are on a longer unbeaten run across all competitions than any other Serie A team. However, they will need to navigate their next encounter, against Parma, without some key players.
Just before the break, a number of Roma players tested positive for Covid-19. Lorenzo Pellegrini is the only member of that group to have recovered; he makes the squad, but Edin Dzeko, Marash Kumbulla, Federico Fazio and Davide Santon remain out.
Primavera midfielder Tommaso Milanese also returns to the squad, after having to self-isolate for the last game due to roommate Pietro Boer testing positive.
Milanese, who has already made his senior debut, is one of four Primavera players in the squad to boost the numbers. The others are defender Amir Feratovic and wingers Suf Podgoreanu and Ruben Providence – the latter fresh from signing a new contract with the club.
Of the depleted squad, Paulo Fonseca has already confirmed two players who will be starting. Gonzalo Villar will play from the first minute for the first time in Serie A this season. His Spanish compatriot Borja Mayoral will start in place of Dzeko up front.
Embed from Getty ImagesWith Pellegrini only just returning to the squad, he is unlikely to start – hence Fonseca’s faith in Villar. Since Dzeko is also out, this will be a test of how deep Roma’s leadership runs.
Bryan Cristante will probably wear the captain’s armband, although he will likely have to drop into defence to cover for Kumbulla, Fazio and Chris Smalling. The English defender is out after a case of food poisoning, thus missing the chance to play on his birthday.
Roma’s defence will have to be wary of the threat posed by a familiar face. Gervinho spent two-and-a-half years playing for the Giallorossi – and some reports have even linked him with a return to the club in January, although others have denied it. He is still a key player for Parma up front, and is their joint-top scorer this season with two goals.
Roma are looking to preserve their unbeaten record at home to Parma in the 21st Century. If they do so, then they will move to 10 games officially unbeaten. It would be 11 if the appeal against the walkover defeat to Verona had been successful – which it was not.
Furthermore, if Roma win by four goals and Sassuolo do not beat Verona, they could go top of the table temporarily – until Milan take on Napoli later in the day.
Roma’s game kicks off at 2pm UK time, but will not be live on British TV.
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