After their Europa Conference League exertions on Thursday, AS Roma will return to Serie A action on Monday as they travel to Florence to face Fiorentina in the 36th round of the 2021/22 Serie A season.
Venue: Stadio Artemio Franchi (Florence)
Key Statistics
Fiorentina have failed to score in three of their last four competitive games.
The hosts have the third-best home record in Italy this season, having won 35 of their 56 league points at home.
They have scored 34 out of the 54 goals they have scored this season at home.
AS Roma are winless in their last three league games (two draws and one loss).
The visitors have scored more goals away from home (30) than at home this season (25).
They have scored exactly one goal in eight consecutive away matches.
Head to head
Fiorentina have lost five straight head-to-head meetings with Roma and have won just one of the previous nine home league meetings against the ’Giallorossi’ (D2, L6).
Latest performances in all competitions
Fiorentina: L-L-L-L-W
AS Roma: W–D-D-L-D
Fiorentina
Fiorentina will look to get their quest for a place in Europe next season back on track this Monday when they welcome Jose Mourinho’s side to Florence.
The hosts are currently enduring a terrible run of form, as they have lost their last four games in all competitions, with three of those losses coming in the league.
Their last outing was a narrow 1-0 loss to AC Milan, condemning ‘I Viola’ to their first three-game losing streak in Serie A since 2019. The results have come at the worst possible time as they are losing ground in the race for the European places with games running out.
They have scored just one goal across their last four competitive outings (L4), and it appears the winter departure of striker Dušan Vlahović has been fundamental in their recent decline.
Vincenzo Italiano’s men come into this tie sitting in the seventh position, three points behind Lazio and AS Roma ahead of them. And so, if they win this game they will draw level on points with Jose Mourinho’s side and that way ensure that they stay firmly within touching distance with the top six as the season draws to a close.
However, a visit from AS Roma doesn’t always bode well for Fiorentina, who have lost their last five meeting with ’Giallorossi’ while winning just one of the previous nine home league meetings against their visitors.
But given that they have the third-best home record in the league, they will fancy their chances of turning up the heat in front of their own fans.
Possible Fiorentina starting line-up
Pietro Terracciano; Alvaro Odriozola, Nikola Milenkovic, Igor, Cristiano Biraghi; Alfred Duncan, Lucas Torreira, Giacomo Bonaventura; Riccardo Saponara, Arthur Cabral, Nicolas Gonzalez.
Injured: Alvaro Odriozola, Gaetano Castrovilli
Doubtful: None
Suspended: None
AS Roma
After sealing their place in a European final for the first time in 31 years, Jose Mourinho will now his attention to securing a top-six finish in Serie A.
The Portuguese beat Leicester City last Thursday 1-0 to book a place in the UEFA Europa League Conference League and in so doing became the first manager to qualify for all UEFA club competitions.
But in the league his side are winless in three games, lasting dropping points in a goalless draw with Bologna last Monday. The result, followed by Juventus’ 2-1 win over Venezia, ended Roma’s chances of finishing in the top four.
And so, despite qualifying for the UECL final, the ’Giallorossi’ will be desperate to win this game to keep their place in the top six so that irrespective of what happens in the UECL final later this month they are at least guaranteed Europa League football next season.
With just three games to play, a win in this game will solidify their chances of finishing in the top six as they will move six points ahead of their seventh-placed hosts.
But without an away win in all competitions in four games, there are no guarantees in this game. Still, their strong record against Fiorentina will serve as a motivation for them in this game.
Possible AS Roma starting line-up
Rui Patricio, Gianluca Mancini, Roger Ibanez, Marash Kumbulla; Rick Karsdorp, Bryan Cristante, Jordan Veretout, Matias Vina; Lorenzo Pellegrini, Felix Afena-Gyan, Tammy Abraham.
Injured: Henrikh Mkhitaryan
Doubtful: None
Suspended: None
Prediction
Fiorentina 1-2 AS Roma