Roma vs Genoa Predictions-After suffering back-to-back setbacks in Serie A and Europe, Roma aim to claim victory in their final home match of the season, as they welcome Genoa to the Stadio Olimpico on Sunday.
The Giallorossi’s hopes of returning to the Champions League hang by a thread, while their Ligurian counterparts have not given up on a top-half finish.
Roma vs Genoa Predictions-Having just become Bayer Leverkusen’s latest victim in the Europa League semi-finals, when twice late defeats saw them lose a third straight UEFA final, Roma resumed their fight for a top-five finish against Atalanta BC last weekend.
Going toe-to-toe with their direct rivals for Champions League qualification, Daniele De Rossi’s men were blown away by La Deux’s flamboyant football at the Gewis Stadium, only to find themselves two goals behind after just 20 minutes.
In the end, they only lost 2-1 thanks to Lorenzo Pellegrini’s second-half penalty, but it was clear that the better team won; Roma are six points behind in the Serie A standings.
Curiously, though, if Atalanta beat Bayer Leverkusen in the Europa League final and finish fifth, a sixth seat in Europe’s top table would be made available to an Italian club, so all hope is not lost.
Without a win from their last five matches, the Giallorossi will therefore need to aim to dust themselves off with wins over Genoa and last-day hosts Empoli, as city rivals Lazio are now within a point of the draw.
Roma vs Genoa Predictions-History suggests that the first part of the plan should be achievable, as Roma have notably lost just one of their last 37 home games against Genoa in the top flight, winning less than 30.
The capital club’s last defeat in this fixture was back in 1990, they were beaten 4-1 by Marasi in the reverse fixture in September and now face opponents keen to complete a rare double.
Roma vs Genoa Predictions-Following their shock victory last autumn, Genoa can now win both home and away against Roma in Serie A for the first time since 1947 – if they can over come the sheer weight of precedent at the Stadio Olimpico.
Alberto Gilardino’s squad have certainly not lacked spirit this season, as last week’s win over Sassuolo meant the Gryphons have so far moved 18 points clear of relegation; Only Napoli have managed more.
After trailing at the break against relegation-threatened opponents, captain Milan Badelz’s second-half strike earned Genoa an equaliser, before they benefited from an own goal just seven minutes later.
Having previously held AC Milan to a six-goal thriller, Gilardino’s side have been beaten just once in their last eight league games – by in-form Lazio – and can still mathematically return to Serie A and claim a top-half finish.
Tenth-placed Napoli lead the Ligurian club by six points with two games remaining, but whatever happens in the final fortnight of the season, their comeback campaign can be considered a success.
Roma’s Argentinian duo Leandro Paredes and Paulo Dybala should both be involved this weekend, as the former recovers from his forced half-time withdrawal against Atalanta and the latter is now back in full training.
Dybala was unable to play any part in the Giallorossi’s Europa League exit with an adductor problem and also missed the subsequent trip to Bergamo; Roma vs Genoa Predictions-Dybala could be reunited with top scorer Romelu Lukaku, who has found the net in all competitions since arriving on loan from Chelsea.
Captain Lorenzo Pellegrini has scored nine Serie A goals in the calen
dar year – six of his own and three assists – and is set to make his 250th appearance in the Italian top flight, joining Paredes in central midfield roma vs genoa predictions.
Meanwhile, Genoa are still missing junior Messi due to injury, but Ruslan Malinovski, Matia Bani and Vitinha could feature after being fit in time for the trip.
Once again linked with Italy forward Matteo Retegui, star striker Albert Gudmundsson has made it eight goals away from home this season – one more on Sunday will equal the Gryphons’ club record.
Roma vs Genoa Predictions-Roma probable starting lineup:
Savillar; Celik, Mancini, Ndika, Angelino; Cristante, Paredes, Pellegrini; Dybala, Lukaku, El Shaarawi
Genoa Probable Starting Lineup:
Martinez; Vogliaco, De Winter, Vasquez; Spence, Freundrup, Badelz, Strootman, Martin; Gudmundson, Retegui
We say: Roma 2-2 Genoa
Roma’s revival under Daniele De Rossi – who recently extended his short-term contract by three years – is starting to stall, so fickle Genoa could leave the capital with a point.
Gryphons never know when they’re beaten, and they have enough firepower to test their hosts’ increasingly leaky defenses.
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