The Jose Mourinho era hasn’t gone as smoothly as many Roma supporters would have hoped for. Ahead of Serie A’s matchday 17, the Giallorossi have posted a record of 8W-1D-7L.
On Monday night, Mourinho takes Roma up against 17th-place Spezia. Roma are seventh in the Serie A standings with 25 points from 48 possible this season. Nine points separate Roma from the top four going into matchday 17.
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Spezia are winless in four straight matches with three of those games ending in defeat. They are just two points ahead of the bottom three going into matchday 17. Serie A’s relegation battle is tight with eight points separating 20th-place Salernitana and 14th-place Udinese.
Last season, these teams met twice in Serie A with Roma winning at home 4-3. The reverse fixture finished 2-2 with Roma needed two second half goals to finishing the 90 minutes in a draw.
Mourinho’s Giallorossi took a mere six points from the last 18 on offer in Serie A. Roma were outscored 9-6 during that six-match time span. Spezia took just four points from the last 18 available. They were outscored 13-5 over the course of those six fixtures.
Roma have won just one of their last four matches at the Stadio Olimpico. Meanwhile, Spezia have the second-lowest points total away from home in Serie A. They have lost five straight away matches and manager Thiago Motta’s team has taken a mere four points from 24 on the road.
Mourinho has four players on the injury list going into the weekend. Midfielders Nicolo Zaniolo and Stephan El Shaarawy are both doubts due to injuries.
Felix Afena-Gyan is a doubt due to a positive COVID-19 test. Midfielder Lorenzo Pellegrini is likely to miss the fixture due to a muscle injury. In addition to the injuries, Mourinho will be without Gianluca Mancini, who is suspended.
Motta could be without the duo of Quartsin Gyasi and Leo Sena. Both players are fighting injuries. Gyasi is recovering from a head injury and is likely to be further away from a return than Sena.
Roma have scored 24 goals this season in 16 matches. However, goals conceded have been a problem. Roma have allowed 19 goals to opponents. On matchday 16, they were thrashed at home by Inter Milan 3-0.
Spezia have conceded the league’s most goals with 36. They are likely to concede goals once more when visiting Roma. The Giallorossi claimed a home win against Spezia last season and should do it once more at the Olimpico.
Spezia have lost five straight away matches. Roma should pick up a victory and end their two-match Serie A losing streak.
Both of last season’s matches ended with over 2.5 goals scored and the teams should once again combine for more than 2.5 goals.