Two points above the relegation zone, Roma are in desperate need of a victory on Sunday when they face-off against Parma in their lunch-time hour fixture.
Both sides will be eager for redemption after suffering dismal defeats last weekend—the Giallorossi falling 2-0 to 18th-placed Como while the Emilians lost out 3-2 to Hellas Verona.
Roma’s league nightmares continued last weekend after they suffered a humiliating defeat to relegation candidates Como. It marked their eighth defeat of the season and extended their Serie A winless streak away from home—their last league win occurring last season in April.
However, midweek Coppa Italia victory provided a rare moment of relief for the embattled Giallorossi. The capital club earned a commanding 4-1 win over Sampdoria on Wednesday in the Coppa Italia Round of 16. The win set-up a quarterfinal showdown with AC Milan in February—the club aiming to hoist their tenth Coppa Italia title.
After resting a couple key players on Wednesday, Claudio Ranieri is expected to restore several regular starters to the lineup against Parma—including goalkeeper Mile Svilar and midfielder Manu Kone. He’ll also welcome back veteran defender Mats Hummels, who missed the match due to influenza.
Meanwhile, Ranieri is expected to utilise an attacking trio of Paulo Dybala and Stephan El Shaarawy behind Artem Dovbyk, who scored a first half brace against Samp.
“We’ll face Parma with the same determination we’ve shown ever since I arrived. I don’t want to see another display like the second half against Como because quite honestly it was shocking,” Ranieri admitted to reporters during his pre match press conference.
“I can’t deny I was disappointed. Parma are a team with a lot of energy who play direct and all their forwards are good. They’re one of the teams that have lost the least balls in midfield because they don’t spend much time there – they play it forward straight away.”
Adding, “Sometimes they play 4-2-4 with a lot of movement up front so we’ll have to be alert on both the first and the second balls.”
