Verdict: Over 1.5 goals
Best Odds: 2/5
Bookmaker: Luckster
Only days removed from their Europa League heartbreak, Roma will sign off their Serie A campaign when they welcome Spezia to the Stadio Olimpico on Sunday night.
Roma
Starting with the hosts, suffering what was major Europa League final heartbreak at the hands of Sevilla only a few days ago, Roma could still be dealing with a major hangover on Sunday night. Eventually falling short from the penalty spot in Budapest, there remains plenty of speculation over Jose Mourinho’s long-term future at the Stadio Olimpico. Knowing that they don’t have time to feel sorry for themselves as they enter the final weekend in a three-horse race with Juventus and Atalanta to secure a top-six finish, the former Manchester United boss has seen his downbeat squad show a string of issues over the past couple of months. Along with their Europa League heartbreak in midweek, Mourinho’s men have remarkably recorded just a single win from any of their last 10 straight appearances across all competitions – a run that stems all the way back to April 20th.
Team News
Picking up a knee injury last month, Roma have confirmed that 23-year-old Marash Kumbulla will not feature at the Stadio Olimpico. However, the Giallorossi have reported a clean bill of health ahead of Sunday’s showdown.
Making his return from an ankle injury with what turned out to be a consolation Europa League final strike earlier in the week, former Juventus superstar Paulo Dybala should once again lead Mourinho’s attack here.
Spezia
As for the visitors, while Roma might open the final weekend of Serie A fixtures in a European scrap, Spezia are simply fighting to maintain their top-flight status. With just their goal difference keeping them ahead of Verona and dropping into the relegation zone, Leonardo Semplici’s side know what must be done at the Stadio Olimpico. However, last seen putting in a nightmare display as they slumped to a 4-0 drumming at home against Torino, the Little Eagles have recorded just one win from any of their last 11 straight domestic appearances – a run that stems back to March 10th. Suffering a 2-0 loss when they welcomed Sunday’s hosts to the Stadio Alberto Picco for their reverse Serie A meeting on January 22nd, Spezia do hold a nightmare record against the Europa League finalists. In fact, Semplici’s side have collected just a single point from any of their last five straight top-flight battles against Roma.
Team News
All still dealing with respective long-term injury issues, Spezia will travel to Rome on Sunday night without the quartet of Julius Beck, Emil Holm, Joao Moutinho and Peter Zovko. However, making a cameo appearance after returning from a brief knock last weekend, Simeone Bastoni could be handed a full recall.
Bagging just a single goal in any of his last 20 appearances across all competitions, Emmanuel Gyasi could be replaced in attack by 26-year-old Daniele Verde.
Key Factors to Consider
- When Roma and Spezia met for their reverse Serie A meeting on January 22nd, Sunday’s hosts picked up a 2-0 victory at the Stadio Alberto Picco.
- Likewise, Mourinho’s men have collected 13 points from just their last five Serie A meetings against the Little Eagles.
- However, including their Europa League final heartbreak out in Budapest earlier in the week, Roma have recorded just one win from their previous 10 appearances across all competitions.
- Likewise, on a run hat stems all the way back to March 10th, Spezia have claimed just a single win from their last 11 domestic appearances.
- Eight of Roma’s last nine contests at the Stadio Olimpico have finished with over 1.5 goals.
Conclusion
Suffering Europa League final heartbreak at the hands of Sevilla earlier in the week, Mourinho’s men know that they don’t have time to feel sorry for themselves. Still with work to do in their bid to claim an essential top-six finish, Roma certainly have the feel of a squad that are limping their way over the finish line. While the Italian giants might hold a rampant record against Sunday’s guests, they have remarkably recorded just a single win from any of their previous 10 straight appearances across all competitions. With Spezia still fighting for their lives at the foot of the Serie A table, Mourinho’s side can’t show any signs of a European hangover. It should be noted, with Roma seeing eight of their last nine showdowns at the Stadio Olimpico finish with over 1.5 goals, we are backing a similar outcome here.
Verdict: Over 1.5 goals
Best Odds: 2/5
Bookmaker: Luckster
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