Prediction: AS Roma vs Genoa

Verdict: AS Roma to win by two goals

Best Odds: 15/4

Bookmaker: bet365

AS Roma need to win on the final day of the season to secure an automatic Champions League berth and they will fancy their chances of ending the current campaign in style. Their opponents Genoa have largely struggled on the road, but an opportunity to spoil the party for the Giallorossi could inspire them to a good performance.

AS Roma

It is quite surprising to see Luciano Spalletti under so much pressure after turning AS Roma into one of Europe’s most exciting sides and getting incredibly close to holders and new champions Juventus. The Giallorossi have been recording big wins both home and away, and after also beating Juventus at their Stadio Olimpico, they are in excellent spirits ahead of the final match of the season. As things stand now, Spalletti will probably leave the club shortly after the Genoa game, but he will obviously want to quit having secured a top 2 finish. AS Roma responded really well to derby defeat to Lazio, going on to hammer AC Milan (4-1), Juventus (3-1) and Chievo (5-3), and no wonder they have been made hot favourites to defeat travel sick Genoa as well. While Edin Dzeko and Mohamed Salah continued scoring goals for fun, it was Stephan El Shaarawy’s excellent form that made the headlines as Il Faraone bagged four goals in last three games, and appears to have secured a regular starting berth.

Team News

Edin Dzeko should recover in time to start the game, but chances are he will be replaced by club legend Francesco Totti, who will probably make his final appearance at Stadio Olimpico.

Mohamed Salah will be in the side as well, having recovered from a minor knock, whereas Radja Nainggolan will be recalled.

Genoa

Genoa enjoyed a pretty solid start to the current campaign, but they began to struggle at the turn of the year and eventually narrowly managed to avoid the drop. Home wins over Inter Milan and Torino proved enough to secure Serie A survival, but the Rossoblu clearly cannot be satisfied with this season and need to find a way to show improvement next time out. All that’s left is for Genoa to contest the clash against AS Roma, where they will have a very difficult task in an attempt to avoid yet another defeat on the road. Namely, while Genoa managed to win their last two fixtures at Stadio Luigi Ferraris, they lost six of last seven away games, failing to score a single goal in those defeats. And while losses to Napoli, AC Milan and Juventus were not that surprising, heavy defeats to Pescara (5-0) and Udinese (3-0) as well as the 1-0 reverse against Palermo are enough to suggest that the team will have to seriously improve their performances on the road in the future.

Team News

Armando Izzo misses out through suspension, whereas Mattia Perin is a long-term casualty. Giovanni Simeone is likely to be preferred to Goran Pandev and Mauricio Pinilla upfront.

Key Factors to Consider

• AS Roma scored 12 goals in last three fixtures
• The Giallorossi won last five meetings with Genoa
• AS Roma won last nine home games vs Rossoblu
• Genoa lost six of last seven away games, failing to score in those defeats
• El Shaarawy bagged 4 goals in last 3 matches

Conclusion

Taking into account Genoa’s wretched away form and their struggles in front of goal, there is no way they’ll be able to spoil Roma’s party at Stadio Olimpico. We expect to see yet another convincing performance from the Giallorossi in what could be the final game for both Totti and Spalletti at the club.

Verdict: AS Roma to win by two goals

Best Odds: 15/4

Bookmaker: bet365