Roma have the chance to equal their best unbeaten run under Paulo Fonseca when they face Torino on their return from the winter break.
2019 ended on a high note for the Giallorossi under their new coach, with a shutout draw at Inter Milan and a 4-1 thrashing of Fiorentina the standout results from December. Now, after a fortnight’s break, Roma are back in action, looking to pick up from where they left off.
Standing in their way is the first of two Turin sides set to visit the Olimpico in the next two games, as Torino come to the capital ahead of next week’s clash with Juventus.
It should be an emotional encounter for sporting director Gianluca Petrachi, who joined the club from Torino over the summer. The 50-year-old has had a major impact in putting together this promising Roma team, and will be hoping his the side he has assembled prove themselves against his old employers.
“I spent nine fantastic years there. I gave everything for Torino but it aged me too because I cared so much about the club,” Petrachi told asroma.com in their latest ‘Big Interview’ this week. “It was a great learning experience. Having been through difficulties there helps you to do well at a club like Roma because if you haven’t been through certain things before you could fall to pieces here.
“I left lots of players there and seeing them again will be an emotional occasion. Perhaps the reverse fixture will be more emotional because it will be like going back to my old home. On Sunday the professional side will take over. I don’t like losing; I’m ambitious. I really hate losing. I hope our players have the right attitude on Sunday.”
Roma’s squad for the encounter does not feature Bruno Peres, one of the few ex-Torino players among the ranks. The wing-back has resumed training with the club after loan spells in Brazil, and while Fonseca is keen to see what he can offer, he is not yet fit enough to be involved.
Bruno Peres has returned to Roma! He reunites with sporting director Gianluca Petrachi, who signed him at Torino. Will he be a success second time around? https://t.co/JLqEs0l0Ja
— Giallorossi Yorkshire (@RomaYorkshire) January 3, 2020
Javier Pastore also remains out for an unspecified time with swollen tissue in a bone, while Justin Kluivert will miss the next two games. Federico Fazio is another notable absentee.
The game kicks off at 7:45pm UK time on Sunday, and will be shown live on Premier Sports 1.
📋 | SQUAD LIST | 📋
— AS Roma English (@ASRomaEN) January 4, 2020
Here are the players available to coach Paulo Fonseca for the first game of 2020! ⚡️#ASRoma #RomaTorino pic.twitter.com/ESSQ4tLagt
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