Separated by just one point in the Serie A standings, mid-table pair Roma and Genoa will clash at Stadio Olimpico on Friday.
Both sides have enjoyed improved form under new management, lifting them away from danger; however, they still trail the European places by some distance.
Match preview
© Imago
Showing renewed spirit under vastly experienced coach Claudio Ranieri, a last-gasp leveller secured Roma's 2-2 draw with Bologna last time out, as the capital club extended their unbeaten streak to five matches.
After ending 2024 with two wins and a draw, the Giallorossi started the new year by triumphing in the Derby della Capitale against Lazio, before heading to Stadio Dall'Ara.
Alexis Saelemaekers opened the scoring against his former loan club, but Bologna struck back with two quick goals; only a late VAR-awarded penalty gave Roma the chance to snatch one point, and Artem Dovbyk duly stepped up to convert it.
That result kept them just inside the top half of the table, occupying 10th place on 24 points - one ahead of 11th-placed Genoa.
Set for a frantic schedule over the next few weeks - including two vital Europa League contests and a Coppa Italia quarter-final against AC Milan - Ranieri's men must first play host to the Grifone in Rome.
Back in September, the reverse fixture ended 1-1 at Marassi, with Dovbyk's first-half strike putting Roma on course for victory before Koni De Winter popped up with a dramatic 96th-minute equaliser.
© Imago
Continuing their upturn since Patrick Vieira took charge, Genoa started the second half of their Serie A campaign by winning on home turf for the first time this season.
Last time out, the Grifone edged out Parma by virtue of Morten Frendrup's decisive strike, as new owner Dan Sucu oversaw his first match after completing a recent takeover.
Following six draws and four defeats at Stadio Ferraris, they finally ended their drought after surviving a couple of scares during the second half.
Thanks to Vieira's influence, Genoa have gradually inched up the table, losing only one of their last 10 league matches while keeping no fewer than six clean sheets.
Now, they lie just below Roma - albeit with only a five-point buffer to the drop zone - and can overtake their capital-city counterparts by winning on Friday.
The Ligurian club will also aim to extend a five-match streak without defeat on the road, as their most recent away loss came back in October, when they last travelled to Rome and were beaten by Lazio.
Team News
© Imago
Claudio Ranieri's task of reviving Roma has been helped by having an almost full squad available, and only Bryan Cristante is set to sit out Friday's game through injury.
The Italy midfielder should return from an ankle problem next week, but with everyone else fit and ready, Ranieri could keep faith with the lineup that started against both Bologna and Lazio.
That would see Artem Dovbyk and Paulo Dybala featuring up front. The latter will celebrate a century of Roma appearances this weekend, having recently returned to form: he has been directly involved in four goals in his last four league games.
Meanwhile, Genoa's absence list remains lengthy, and captain Milan Badelj joined it last week when pulling up with a hamstring problem in the win over Parma.
Patrick Vieira is still missing Vitinha, Brooke Norton-Cuffy, Caleb Ekuban, Ruslan Malinovskyi and Honest Ahanor too, but Junior Messias could play for the first time since a long layoff.
Once again, top scorer Andrea Pinamonti spearheads the Grifone's attack, with maverick striker Mario Balotelli consigned to the bench.
Roma possible starting lineup:
Svilar; Mancini, Hummels, Ndicka; Saelemaekers, Kone, Paredes, Pellegrini, Angelino; Dybala, Dovbyk
Genoa possible starting lineup:
Leali; De Winter, Bani, Vasquez, Martin; Kasa; Zanoli, Frendrup, Thorsby, Miretti; Pinamonti
We say: Roma 1-1 Genoa
On home soil this season, Roma have won six times and lost on four occasions, summing up their chronic inconsistency under three different managers.
As Genoa actually average more points on their travels, they can continue their impressive run of results by grinding out a low-scoring draw.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Jonathan O'Shea
