Roma v Spezia is a Serie A Week 38 match played on Sunday at 21:00: fixtures, predictions, TV and streaming
Roma’s big dream of lifting another European cup for the second year in a row was dashed on the long night in Budapest, as Sevilla proved lethal in the Europa League and came out on top in the penalty shoot-out.
An unlucky night for the Giallorossi, who were furious at some questionable decisions made by English referee Taylor, who was also addressed in a harsh tone by José Mourinho himself once the game was over. In one of the post-match interviews, the Portuguese coach also spoke about his future, saying that his stay is not a foregone conclusion and that it will depend on several factors. The match against Spezia could be the last on the Capitoline bench for the coach from Setubal, who will not be present because he is disqualified. In the meantime, with qualification for the next Champions League long gone, Pellegrini and his team-mates will try to get rid of the tremendous cup disappointment by consolidating sixth place and at least limiting the damage. The Giallorossi have focused exclusively on the Europa League final in recent weeks, pulling the plug a little in the league. And if they are not seventh today, it is only thanks to the penalty imposed on Juventus, who are a point down.
La Spezia could play the play-off
Roma’s last league win came on 16 April, a month and a half ago, when Mourinho’s men thrashed Udinese 3-0. Since then their only successes have come in the cup, beating Feyenoord and Bayer Leverkusen. In Serie A, however, there have been four draws and three defeats. The most recent knockout was last Saturday in Florence: a team full of reserves let themselves be caught in the end by the Viola.
Spezia players confront fans
To defend sixth place, Roma will have to finish ahead of Juventus, or at least finish with the same points as the Bianconeri, who are at a disadvantage in the direct clashes. Atalanta (+1) are not far behind either, but they only need to beat Monza to finish fifth. Among the three teams playing for ‘minor’ Europe, the Giallorossi have the most complicated commitment, who will have to face a Spezia with the water at its throat. A week ago the Ligurians were swept aside by Torino (0-4) and if they have not been overtaken by Verona they have to thank Empoli, who prevented the Scaligeri from taking home a very important victory. Spezia and Verona now have the same points, 31, and should the tie remain even after the last ninety minutes of the championship, a play-off will have to be played. Leonardo Semplici’s away team has been disastrous this year, having won only two games out of 18.
Roma-Spezia: the latest line-up news
Mourinho without Kumbulla and Karsdorp, but those players who played many minutes in Budapest and are low on energy are unlikely to be on the pitch. One of these is Matic, but also Dybala himself, whose goal at half-time had the Giallorossi fans dreaming. In attack, the Portuguese coach could deploy Belotti and Abraham as a pair, with Bove and Cristante in the middle. At the back, alongside Smalling and Ibanez, is Llorente.
In Spezia, Caldara, Holm, Bastoni and Moutinho will not be available, but the formation is practically done. Semplici will opt for a 3-5-2: Amian and Reca will line up on the flanks, while Gyasi and Nzola are the most guaranteed up front.
The Prediction
L Spezia are anything but a confident team: the Bianconeri have won just one of their last 11 games and have never managed to beat Roma since they have been in the top flight, except in the Coppa Italia. They are grappling with a serious offensive problem – two goals scored in the last four matches – but in the match at the Olimpico they play for everything and it would not be wrong to bet a chip on them, also considering they will have to deal with a team drained of energy. A positive result for the Ligurians, in short, is possible in a match in which both should score on at least one occasion.
Roma v Spezia matchday squad
- ROMA (3-4-1-2): Rui Patricio; Mancini, Smalling, Ibanez; Zalewski, Cristante, Bove, El Shaarawy; Pellegrini; Dybala, Abraham.
- SPEZIA (3-5-2): Dragowski; Wisniewski, Ampadu, Nikolaou; Amian, Bourabia, Ekdal, Esposito, Reca; Gyasi, Nzola.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 1-1
