Torino vs Roma

Torino have it all to do this week when they play host to AS Roma at the Stadio Olimpico di Torino. The side managed by Walter Novellino have not won a Serie A match in over 50 days and continue to sink down the league table. Roma are doing their best to hang in with league leaders Inter Milan and are coming off of a positive performance against Man Utd in the Champions League.

Novellino is trying to keep his side from falling into a prolonged bad streak. Wins have been extremely hard to come by of late for Toro. This poor streak has seen them fall to 13^th place with 15 points, 2 back of SS Lazio. Torino have scored just 2 goals in their last 5 matches and their last result was a humiliating 4-0 defeat away to Inter Milan in which they were simply outclassed in every sector of the pitch. The club did receive some good news this week when it was confirmed that Eugenio Corini will be able to start as he has recovered sufficiently from injury. The same cannot be said for Stellone or Grella so Rosina and Barone will cover their spots in the midfield. The Uruguayan Recoba is expected to start this match on the bench.

Luciano Spalletti’s outfit come into this match winners of 3 of their last 4 Serie A matches with the lone draw being a 1-1 draw away to Livorno last week. They have 32 points and sit 5 back of the pace setters in Serie A- Inter Milan. The giallorossi have 2 important absences this week as Taddei has to serve another match suspension while Francesco Totti was a last minute scratch due to a nagging injury. On a positive note, Mexes is back to 100% fitness and is confirmed to start at the back along with the Brazilian Juan. Perrotta is the player slated to start for Totti in a 4-2-3-1 with 3 attacking midfielders and Antonio Cassano as the lone striker. Mancini of Brazil and Giuly of France will accompany Perrotta in midfield.

Despite not having Totti or Taddei the Roma starting eleven is still an embarrassment of riches when compared with Torino. Given that Torino have not won in almost 2 months it’s very likely that they will be very concentrated but their overall confidence has to be suffering. Roma should be good enough for at least a draw int his match.

Prediction: Draw 1-1

Genoa vs AS Roma

Genoa return home to host AS Roma looking to finally put an end to their current 5 match winless run. Genoa were last able to claim 3 points from a match back during the first week of October when they held serve over Cagliari by a score of 2-0 at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris. This poor spell has seen Gian Piero Gasperini’s side fall to 12^th in the Serie A league table. They will be hosting a Roma outfit who will be playing only their second match of the month given the tragic events of 2 weeks ago.

At the time of the postponement of their match, the giallorossi were on a 5 match unbeaten run which had included a 4 match win streak up to their 2-2 draw away to Empoli. That makes this weeks contest away to Genoa their second consecutive away match. They come into this match in 3^rd place of Serie A with 22 points from 11 matches. They are just 1 point behind 2^nd place Fiorentina with 1 match in hand. Meanwhile, Genoa have 14 points from 12 matches and are just behind AC Milan on goal difference.

The two week break for international matches was beneficial for Il Grifone as they are expected to be at full strength for this match. With everyone available Gasperini is considering just one modification at this time with respect to the starting eleven and that would be to include Coppola as the inside right midfield in place of Sculli. Genoa would then go with a 3-5-2 formation Leon and Borriello upfront.

The same cannot be said for Roma this week in terms of injuries. Despite not having played a match in almost 3 weeks, the injury woes are plentiful for Spalletti. Among the notables still out injured are Francesco Totti, Aquilani and Taddei. In addition, French defender Mexes is still recovering from the head injury he suffered in training back on the 6^th of November and the Roma medical staff do not want to take any chances with a injury of that nature. The most likely combination of center back for Roma will see the Brazilian Juan team up with Ferrari in a 4-2-3-1 formation with Vucinic as the lone striker while Max, Giuly and Mancini play just behind.

Genoa have not been too strong at home this season and have managed just 2 victories. Meanwhile, Roma are undefeated in 6 road matches. Despite all the injuries on the visiting side, look for Roma to at least be able to hold out for the draw.

Prediction: Draw (1-1)

Roma vs Cagliari

Nothing is ever easy for AS Roma and this season has not been any different. The euphoria of having defeated Lazio in the derby was quickly quieted by their inability to get more than one point from their visit to the lowly Empoli which resulted in a 2-2 draw. It was hoped that Ned Spalletti’s side would be able to take advantage of the fact that Inter Milan and Juventus were playing each other but in the end nothing changed as far as the Serie A league table is concerned.

This week they are not only missing club captain Francesco Totti along with Aquilani, but the Brazilian Taddei is now very doubtful to start. These developments will put a lot of pressure on the Chilean David Pizarro to produce in the play maker role. This week’s opponent for Roma, Cagliari, come in with their own problems. They are winless over their last 5 matches and this includes crashing at home last week to Sampdoria in an ugly 0-3 loss.Cagliari have now fallen to 17^th place in Serie A and are only out of the relegation zone because of goal difference. They have problems in the back line where Uruguayan Diego Lopez has finally returned from injury but at best is expected to be available off of the bench. His Uruguayan mate Joe Bizera will take his spot in central defense.

Despite Roma’s poor performance of a week ago and the fact that they could be missing some key players including the aforementioned Totti, they should have enough fire power to handle the struggling Cagliari at home. This is the type of match which title contenders always find a way to win. It would take a tremendous effort by the visitor’s this week to be able to finally put an end to their winless run at the Stadio Olimpico of all places, especially given that Roma are one of 3 undefeated sides left in Serie A. With manager Giampaolo hinting at playing an offensive style away to Roma with the way his side leak goals- 18 in 11 matches- it can only spell disaster.

Prediction: Home win (3-1)

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