Serie A preview – Roma vs Fiorentina prediction.

Radja Nainggolan is a doubt for Roma after the midfielder was forced off in the first half on Saturday with a hamstring problem. The injury is not thought to be serious and Luciano Spalletti would probably make a major reshuffle should the star midfielder fail his fitness test. Edin Dzeko is pushing for a start after ending his goal drought with a brace against Palermo. The striker found himself back on the bench for the trip to Empoli for Diego Perotti who has excelled since his move from Genoa in January. Daniele de Rossi is sidelined with a calf injury along with Norbert Gyomber who is recovering from a broken toe.

Fiorentina coach Paulo Sousa could name an unchanged line-up from the side that drew 1-1 against Napoli on Monday. Mauro Zarate serves the last of a three-match suspension and the rest of the squad has a clean bill of health with the exception of backup defender Yohan Benalouane. Leading scorer Nikola Kalinic has only scored once in the last 10 league games but Sousa has the option of Khouma Babacar or bringing in goalscoring midfielder Josip Ilicic behind the Croatian striker.

Possible Line-ups

Roma 4-3-3 formation: Szczesny; Florenzi, Manolas, Rudiger, Digne; Pjanic, Vainquer, Nainggolan; Salah, Perotti, El Shaarawy

Fiorentina 4-2-3-1 formation: Tatarusanu; Roncaglia, Rodriguez, Astori, Alonso; Badelj, Vecino; Tello, Fernandez, Valero; Kalinic

Statistics

  • Roma have won 6 drawn 2 and lost 2 of their last 10 matches
  • Fiorentina have won 4 drawn 4 and lost 2 of their last 10 matches
  • Over the course of their previous 10 matches, Roma have scored an average of 2 goals and conceded an average of 1.2 goals per game
  • Over the course of their previous 10 matches, Fiorentina have scored an average of 1.2 goals and conceded an average of 0.7 goals per game
  • There have been over 2.5 goals scored in 5 of Roma’s previous 10 matches
  • There have been over 2.5 goals scored in 4 of Fiorentina’s previous 10 matches

Prediction 

This is a six-pointer in the battle for a Champions League place and takes on extra importance for Roma as they look likely to exit this season’s European competition next week after losing 2-0 at home to Real Madrid in the round of 16. Spalletti’s men are in great form on the domestic front and have won the last six games in Serie A. Roma have only lost one league game at home this season when losing 2-0 in a shock defeat against Atalanta in November.  

Fiorentina are unbeaten in the last seven league games but have allowed Roma to overtake them due to playing three draws in that run. Sousa’s side humiliated 10-man Inter 4-1 in Milan back in September but have lost on three subsequent trips to sides in the top six. Juventus, Napoli and AC Milan have defeated Fiorentina at home and leaves them needing to reverse that trend at Roma.

Roma won the reverse fixture 2-1 in October and are in the form to do the double over Fiorentina which they achieved twice in the past three seasons.

Tips

Roma to win at 11/10 with bet365

Over 2.5 goals at 10/11 at bwin

Roma to win 2-1 at 8/1 with BetVictor

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