Still unbeaten after fighting back for a point at the weekend, Roma welcome Serie A newcomers Monza to Stadio Olimpico on Tuesday.
While the Giallorossi held Juventus to a 1-1 draw in Turin to maintain their bright start, the visitors suffered a third straight defeat to slump to the foot of the standings.
Match preview
© Reuters
In an early clash of potential Scudetto contenders, Roma took on the challenge of improving their woeful record against the established top four when they met Juventus on Saturday evening.
Having gained maximum points from their first two fixtures, against Cremonese and Salernitana, Jose Mourinho's men were forced to step up in class against the 36-time Italian champions, but held their own at the Allianz Stadium and came from behind to secure a draw.
Tammy Abraham's equaliser midway through the second half got the English striker off the mark for the season, following a successful start to his Serie A stay last term, and the Giallorossi now turn their attention to tackling opponents from the league's lower echelons.
After previously beating another promoted side and one that narrowly avoided demotion in May, Roma are presented with a home game against Serie B playoff-winners Monza, whose ambition in the transfer market has not translated into results as yet.
With just one goal conceded so far - and that from a Dusan Vlahovic free-kick masterpiece - Mourinho has clearly drilled his side well, and having made some smart additions to his squad over the summer, the hosts' head coach will expect nothing less than three points on Tuesday.
© Reuters
While Roma next face Udinese, a home clash with Lombardy rivals Atalanta awaits for struggling Monza, who have found the fixture list somewhat against them in the opening weeks of their first Serie A campaign.
Promoted in a blaze of glory, via a dramatic playoff win over Pisa, the Biancorossi have already been tonked 4-0 by Napoli at Stadio Maradona and now face another southern giant before taking on their counterparts from nearby Bergamo. Juventus then await in mid-September.
Given significant investment from the club's infamous ownership duo of Adriano Galliani and Silvio Berlusconi, coach Giovanni Stroppa already finds himself under intense pressure - particularly following a third successive loss at the weekend.
Though Andrea Colpani broke the deadlock at home to Udinese, scoring Monza's first-ever Serie A goal at Stadio Brianteo in the process, their visitors hit back soon after, before Destiny Udogie's second-half strike stole the points.
Stroppa has now lost each of his last nine top-flight games - including six with relegated Crotone in the 2020-21 campaign - so if he is to stay put until his team reconvene with Udinese in October's Coppa Italia tie, results will have to improve.
- W
- W
- D
- D
- W
- W
- W
- W
- D
- L
- L
- L
- W
- W
- W
- L
- L
- L
Team News
© Reuters
Due to the build-up of fixtures in short succession - and with Roma's Europa League campaign soon set to get under way - Jose Mourinho may consider making some changes to his starting XI.
Still missing Nicolo Zaniolo (shoulder) and longer-term absentee Georginio Wijnaldum, who has been ruled for several months with a broken leg, the hosts at least have a new striker at their disposal, as Andrea Belotti recently completed his move to the capital and should start on the bench.
Wing-backs Nicola Zalewski and Zeki Celik are strong contenders to be drafted into the side, after both appeared as substitutes in Turin, with the places of Rick Karsdorp and Leonardo Spinazzola under threat.
Meanwhile, Monza defender Marlon is still struggling with a thigh injury sustained shortly before Friday's game against Udinese, and with summer signings Andrea Ranocchia and Pablo Mari also out of action, Giovanni Stroppa has some selection issues to resolve in defence.
Patiently biding his time on the bench, Italy international Alessio Cragno still awaits his debut in goal, as Michele Di Gregorio continues to be preferred.
Up front, Andrea Petagna will be joined by Roma academy product Gianluca Caprari, currently on a season-long loan from Hellas Verona, for whom he scored 12 times last term.
Roma possible starting lineup:
Patricio; Mancini, Smalling, Kumbulla; Celik, Matic, Cristante, Zalewski; Pellegrini, Dybala; Abraham
Monza possible starting lineup:
Di Gregorio; Caldirola, Marrone, Carboni; Birindelli, Colpani, Pessina, Sensi, Augusto; Caprari, Petagna
We say: Roma 2-1 Monza
With a certain amount of Serie A experience offering hope of breaking through Roma's so-far steady defence, Monza can score on their first top-flight trip to the Olimpico - but their chances of taking a point are slimmer. The hosts appear more battle-hardened this season, so should do enough to seize a single-goal win.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
