Roma vs Juventus – News and Probable Lineups

In a Sunday night fixture at Stadio Olimpico, Serie A top-four challengers Roma will take on Juventus, both vying for crucial points this weekend.

Juventus have encountered difficulties in Serie A, trailing behind the Giallorossi, and they faced another early exit from the Champions League on Wednesday.

Match overview

Currently four points ahead of fifth-placed Juventus, with Lombardy clubs Como and Atalanta also closing in, Roma is in a battle to maintain their position in Europe.

Defending Serie A champions Napoli – who recently drew 2-2 with the Giallorossi in the Derby del Sole – are also competing for a spot in next season’s Champions League, while only the two Milan clubs appear secure.

Amid these challenges, Roma has secured victories against Cagliari (2-0) and Cremonese (3-0), showcasing solid form at Stadio Olimpico.

The capital side has accumulated 16 points from a possible 18 in their last six home matches, exceeding the expectations set by Gian Piero Gasperini.

His finely-tuned squad has conceded only six goals in 13 home games this season, the best record in Serie A, and they have discovered a consistent scorer in Donyell Malen.

Roma has also progressed to the last 16 of the Europa League, preparing to face domestic rivals Bologna, having bypassed the playoff round with a top-eight finish in the league phase.

Nonetheless, the Giallorossi have managed to earn only a couple of points from six encounters with Italy’s current top five this season – eight less than Juventus has achieved.

Including a 2-1 triumph in the reverse fixture back in December, Juve have outperformed Roma more than any other opponent in Serie A and have only been defeated once in the last 11 league encounters.

This weekend, history favors them, but momentum may not be on their side due to an alarming dip in form.

After suffering back-to-back losses against Inter de Milão and Como, the Bianconeri have not secured a win in their last three league outings, having recorded seven victories in the previous nine; meanwhile, a meager 46-point tally marks their poorest showing at this stage since 2011.

Luciano Spalletti’s struggling side has also exited both the Champions League and Coppa Italia during a forgettable February.

Needing a minor miracle to overturn a 5-2 first-leg deficit, Juve hosted Turkish giants Galatasaray in Turin on Wednesday, ultimately bowing out of Europe after a riveting two-hour contest.

Despite Galatasaray squandering their three-goal advantage with the hosts reduced to 10 men shortly after half-time due to a controversial red card for Lloyd Kelly, Juventus fought hard to force extra time, but fatigue set in, leading to two late goals and a 7-5 aggregate defeat.

Nevertheless, they received applause from a previously frustrated home crowd, leaving ex-Roma manager Spalletti hoping for a positive turnaround from his team.

As he prepares for his return to the Olimpico, Sunday’s Serie A clash carries significant implications for both clubs.

Team News

Roma are optimistic that former Juventus player Paulo Dybala will return from a knee injury in time to face his old side, while Matias Soule is less likely to overcome a lingering groin issue.

Soule may join Evan Ferguson and Artem Dovbyk on the sidelines; Spanish defender Mario Hermoso is also a doubt, though Stephan El Shaarawy is poised to make his comeback.

Regardless of the other players’ fitness, Malen will be a central figure in the Giallorossi’s attack. Since making his Serie A debut in January, he has netted more goals (five), taken more shots (30), and had more touches in the opposition box (63) than any other player.

On the other hand, Juve continue to be without injured forwards Dusan Vlahovic and Arkadiusz Milik, leading to underperforming options Jonathan David and Lois Openda competing for a starting role.

After missing the Bianconeri’s last two fixtures, Bremer is expected to return to action on Sunday, while fellow defender Pierre Kalulu will be back after serving a controversial Serie A suspension.

Juan Cabal and Andrea Cambiaso have returned after UEFA bans, but captain Manuel Locatelli must sit out due to accumulated yellow cards.

Roma probable starting XI:

Svilar; Mancini, Ndicka, Ghilardi; Celik, Cristante, Kone, Wesley; Zaragoza, Pellegrini; Malen

Juventus probable starting XI:

Perrin; Kalulu, Bremer, Kelly, Cambiaso; Thuram, Koopmeiners; Conceicao, McKennie, Yildiz; David

Roma are known for being particularly difficult to overcome, both in terms of scoring and being defeated at home, so a Juventus side that played over an hour with 10 men in midweek may aim for a draw.

A stalemate would benefit the Giallorossi, allowing them to remain four points clear of a direct competitor, but much can change between now and the end of May.