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Roma take their seven-match unbeaten run in Serie A on the road this weekend to face one of Europe’s highest flying teams.
The Giallorossi travel to Campania on Sunday evening where they’ll face league leaders Napoli at the Stadio Diego Armanda Maradona.
Both teams enter the clash on the heels of respective 2-0 league victories last weekend in round 19. Luciano Spalletti’s men defeated Salernitana in their Campanian derby clash while Jose Mourinho’s side breezed past Spezia in Liguria.
The Giallorossi enter nearly at full strength but will be without midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum, Rick Karsdorp, attacker Nicolo Zaniolo, who caused a major stir when he handed in a transfer request last week.
“I don’t know when Wijnaldum will be back, he needs time to learn the new schemes. Perhaps another week or two,” Jose Mourinho stated earlier today.
“As for Zaniolo, unfortunately what I said after Spezia seems to be becoming reality and he’ll be staying.”
“He told me he doesn’t want to play for us anymore, that he doesn’t want to train with the team—so that’s why I say he will unfortunately stay with us after all.”
“But I’m sick of discussing Zaniolo, we’re focused on Napoli. I hope I’m not misinterpreted but congratulations to them for the Scudetto.”
He added, “They’ve won it and deservedly it belongs to them. They’ve done an execellent job on the pitch and in the transfer market. They’re 12 points ahead of second place, 13 ahead of Inter.”
“We’re not going there to celebrate a Scudetto tomorrow but to try and win a game.”
Meanwhile, Luciano Spalletti labeled tomorrow’s showdown against his former club as “crucial.”
“Every game is difficult but this one even more so and it will be crucial for the Scudetto. It’s a match against a director competitor,” he said.
“It will be a game of great individual plays and lots of tactics. The three points are going to be a real prize at fulltime.”
“Roma have great players, a very practical and concrete coach who is always able to work on his side’s attitude ahead of key games. They have strong and fast players, you must never think of managing the game, of thinking you can just cruise until the end.”
Kick-off is scheduled for 20.45 CET in Campania.
NAPOLI (4-3-3): Meret; Di Lorenzo, Rrahmani, Kim, Mario Rui; Anguissa, Lobotka, Zielinski; Elmas, Osimhen, Kvaratskhelia
ROMA (3-4-1-2) Rui Patricio; Mancini, Smalling, Ibanez; Zalewski, Cristante, Matic, El Shaarawy; Pellegrini; Dybala, Abraham
