Overview
After leading the rankings at the end of November, Roma has clearly declined when they lost their last two matches in Serie A without scoring any goals. The crisis in the attack is starting to seriously affect the ambitions of the capital team.
The 0-1 home defeat to defending champions Napoli was followed by a similar loss at Cagliari last week. Zeki Celik's second-half red card further put Roma at a disadvantage and eventually paid the price with a late goal, ending their hopes of a point.
This series of disappointing results has caused Giallorossi to gradually fall behind in the championship race and face the risk of being left behind in the race for the top of Serie A. More worryingly, among the teams in the top half of the rankings, Roma is the team with the fewest goals scored with only 15 goals after 14 rounds.
With key strikers Artem Dovbyk, Paulo Dybala and Evan Ferguson having problems with injuries and form, Roma have been forced to rely on the defense to maintain hope of competing for the top 4. The Ba Tra team has only conceded 8 goals, the best record in the league and also Roma's most impressive number at this stage in the past 12 years.
Security in the lower reaches continued to be shown in midweek, when Roma won 3-0 at Celtic in Glasgow. Evan Ferguson regained his scoring touch with a double in the first half, helping the team get closer to the Europa League knockout round.
After consolidating their position in the European arena, Roma will return to Serie A to welcome Como - an opponent who is also pursuing a position in the top 4. Although Como have won just one of their 13 visits to Roma in the top flight of Italy, they have shown a completely different face since returning to Serie A.
The team under Cesc Fabregas is having the best start in Serie A history with 24 points after 14 rounds, standing above both Lazio and Juventus, and unbeaten since August. However, that 11-match unbeaten streak was ended by Inter Milan's heavy 0-4 defeat at San Siro last week - the first time Como conceded more than one goal this season.
3 points behind Roma, Como will enter the away match at Olimpico with high determination, promising to create a big challenge for Gian Piero Gasperini and his team in the context of the home team still struggling to find a solution to the attack problem.
Personnel situation
Roma has rotated their squad with five changes in their away trip to Celtic Park, but key players such as Manu Kone and Bryan Cristante are likely to return to the starting lineup in the next match. However, Gian Piero Gasperini may not have the services of two players preparing to leave for AFCON.
Evan Ndicka and Neil El Aynaoui were called up to the Ivorian and Morocco national teams, so they need special permission if they want to play one more match before joining the national team.
Zeki Celik is certain to be absent due to suspension, forcing Roma to use Wesley or Devyne Rensch on the right wing in Gasperini's familiar 3-4-2-1 formation.
On the other side of the front line, Nico Paz of Como made a strong impression with 5 goals and 5 assists, and was the player with the most shots in Serie A before this round (51 shots).
Paz is expected to support Tasos Douvikas in the visitors' attack, while Alvaro Morata is unable to play due to a thigh injury. In addition, Como are also without Sergi Roberto and Edoardo Goldaniga due to injury, while midfielder Maximo Perrone is suspended.
Expected lineup:
Roma: Svilar, Mancini, Ndicka, Hermoso, Wesley, Kone, Cristante, Tsimikas, Soule, Pellegrini, Dybala.
Como: Butez, Smolcic, Ramon, Carlos, province, Da Cunha, Caqueret, Addai, Paz, Rodriguez, Douvikas.
The match between Roma and Como takes place at 2:45 am on December 16 (Vietnam time).
