Roma welcome basement boys Pisa to the Stadio Olimpico on Friday night knowing that nothing less than three points will do if they want to keep their fading Champions League hopes alive.
Gian Piero Gasperini’s side have hit a rough patch at the worst possible time. One win in their last seven across all competitions. A 5-2 hiding from Inter last time out. And now they sit sixth on 54 points, four adrift of fourth placed Como with the finish line in sight.
The Europa League exit to Bologna still stings. The inconsistency is killing them. But this? This is a chance to put things right against a team that have forgotten how to win.
Pisa’s nightmare season
If Roma have problems, Pisa are living through a full blown catastrophe.
Rock bottom of the Serie A table. Eighteen points from 31 matches. Nine points from safety. Two wins all season. One victory in their last TWENTY outings.
Their last win came against Cagliari on March 15. Since then, they have been battered 5-0 by Como and squeezed 1-0 by Torino. The fight is there somewhere, but the quality? Barely visible.
Team news: Roma’s injury crisis eases… slightly
Gasperini is still without Paulo Dybala (knee surgery), Artem Dovbyk (hamstring) and Evan Ferguson (ankle) three attacking options wiped out in one go. Gianluca Mancini is also sidelined with an adductor problem picked up against Inter, meaning Daniele Ghilardi will partner Evan Ndicka and Mario Hermoso in the back three.
But here is some good news. Manu Kone and Wesley Franca are edging closer to a return. Gasperini suggested in his press conference they could be back in the group next week. Mancini too.
For tonight, though, the attacking burden falls on Donyell Malen. The Dutchman has seven league goals since January and is the only reliable source of firepower. Matias Soule keeps his spot after starting against Inter, with Lorenzo Pellegrini operating just behind the lone striker.
Pisa’s selection headaches
Oscar Hiljemark has problems of his own. Marius Marin and Daniel Denoon are out injured. Lorran and Samuel Iling Junior have been left out for technical reasons.
But there is a significant boost. Rafiu Durosinmi is back after serving a two match suspension and is expected to reclaim his starting spot up front. Stefano Moreo who has scored five of his six goals away from home this season will partner him.
Veteran Juan Cuadrado offers an option off the bench if the game stays tight.
Probable line ups
Roma (3-4-2-1): Svilar; Ghilardi, Ndicka, Hermoso; Celik, Cristante, Pisilli, Rensch; Soule, Pellegrini; Malen.
Pisa (3-5-2): Semper; Calabresi, Caracciolo, Canestrelli; Leris, Hojholt, Aebischer, Tramoni, Angori; Moreo, Durosinmi.
Where to watch
UK: DAZN (exclusive)
USA: Paramount+
Italy: DAZN and Sky Sport
Kick off is at 19.45 BST at the Stadio Olimpico.
The bottom line
Roma need this. Desperately. A win keeps them in the hunt for fourth. Anything less and the Champions League dream starts to look like a delusion.
Pisa, meanwhile, are playing for pride. And maybe a miracle. They have nothing to lose and everything to gain. That makes them dangerous but only if Roma let them be.
Gasperini will demand a reaction after the Inter shambles. His players owe him one. And against the worst team in the league, there are no excuses.
