Roma will be on hand as they continue their quest for a top-four finish. Serie A Struggling Cremonese head to the Stadio Olimpico on Sunday.

Following last week’s near miss in Napoli, the Giallorossi have recorded just one win in their last five games, while Cremo last tasted success in December and are sliding towards the trapdoor.

match preview

Roma, who sit one point above fifth-placed Juventus after 25 games, with Lombardy clubs Como and Atalanta not far behind, face a battle to secure a long-awaited return to the Champions League.

Despite Donyell Malen scoring twice in two consecutive games, Napoli fought back late on to settle for a 2-2 draw in last week’s Derby del Sole.

After an eventful visit to the Stadio Maradona, the Giallorossi have only picked up two points from six games against Serie A’s current top five, but that could prove costly in the end.

Coach Gian Piero Gasperini will also be hoping to get back into form this weekend as they have won just one of their last four league games, having previously won three in a row.

His well-coached side have conceded just six goals in more than a dozen home games, the best record in Serie A, and have been relentless against teams at the bottom of the league.

Roma have won all four games against promoted teams, both home and away, by an aggregate score of 7-1. In recent years, they have only failed to win once in the last 15 games.

History will therefore be on their side against Cremonese, who have won six of their last eight league matches in Rome and are averaging three goals per game.

Following a 3-1 defeat at the Stadio Gini in November, Cremonese have lost five of the club’s last six league matches, but they won twice, first in the Coppa Italia and then in Serie A, in a memorable match against Roma in February 2023.

Grigio Rossi were ultimately relegated that season, but their comeback campaign may go in a similar direction.

Since winning back-to-back games in early December, the Lombardy club have picked up just four points from 11 games, scoring just three goals, the worst record in Italy’s first division.

Last week’s 0-0 draw with Genoa was their ninth failure to score in those games, but Davide Nicola’s side are far from perfect at the back and Cremonese have had more shots on target than any other team this season.

Last season’s Serie B play-off winners, who have plummeted down the table, are locked in a battle to maintain their place in the top flight and could slip to the bottom three if this weekend’s result is unfavorable.

Nicola, known for his ability to keep the club afloat, has clearly struggled to turn things around and heads to the capital with a record of eight losses and four draws against Gasperini.

Roma Serie A form:

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Roman form (all competitions):

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Cremonese Serie A Form:

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team news

Roma cannot afford to be careless ahead of next week’s crucial match against Juventus, so coach Gasperini will select the strongest team available despite the relatively weak opposition.

But with Brazilian wing-back Wesley spraining his ankle against Napoli and Paulo Dybala also sidelined with a knee problem, they were joined by Stephan El Shaarawy, Matthias Soule, Evan Ferguson and Artem Dovvik in Trigoria’s crowded treatment room.

Good news for the hosts is that Mario Hermoso and key midfielder Manu Kone should return from minor injuries, but it remains to be seen whether they will be able to start.

Malen, who joined in January, averages a goal every 78 minutes in Serie A, but Cremonese’s front pair have suffered a long drought.

Federico Bonazzoli has failed to find the back of the net in 18 attempts this year, while Jamie Vardy has been stuck with just five league goals for some time. Meanwhile, fellow veteran Milan Djuric was given a valuable chance last week but made little impact.

Belgian midfielder Jari Vandeput returned to the bench against Genoa, but Nicola will be without Michele Colo-Colo, Michail Fay and Warren Bond due to injury. There are doubts about Federico Basillotto.

Roma’s expected starting lineup:

Svillar; Mancini, Ndicka, Ghirardi. Serik, Cristante, Cohn, Tsimikas. Zaragoza, Pellegrini. Mullen

Candidates for Cremona’s starting lineup:

Audero. Terracciano, Bianchetti, Ruperto. Barbieri, Thorsby, Paello, Marais, Pezzella. Vardy Bonazzoli

We say: Roma 2-0 Cremonese

All indicators point to a regulatory victory for Rome, which should be in charge of business, over the ailing Cremonese.

The Giallorossi will, as usual, defeat the lower-ranked teams, while Cremo, who are aiming for goals, could fall down the table.

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