Roma have won just one of their last five competitive matches, a run that would have left manager Jose Mourinho unhappy enough without seeing Salzburg boss Matthias Jaissle copy his iconic touchline sprint celebration.
AS Roma
Following their midweek 1-0 UEFA Europa League defeat to Salzburg, Roma have won just one of their last five competitive matches, a run that would have left manager Jose Mourinho unhappy enough without seeing Salzburg boss Matthias Jaissle copy his iconic touchline sprint celebration. Despite the defeat, Mourinho was defiant in his assessment that his Roma side “dominated the game”. Although they trail Serie A leaders Napoli by a considerable distance, Roma have only lost one of their last nine league matches and winning the last three home Serie A games ‘to nil’ should offer them encouragement as they take on struggling Verona. Even if Mourinho believes their title hopes are gone, they’re still battling with several other clubs to nail down a top-four finish and UEFA Champions League qualification for next season.
Verona
Verona may sit in 18th place, but there’s the hope of survival following a run of four unbeaten league games and a win here, coupled with a Spezia defeat, would see them climb out of the relegation zone for the first time since late October. However, given Verona have won just one of the last four H2Hs, that seems unlikely as Marco Zaffaroni prepares to take on Mourinho for the first time. Should he mastermind a victory here, he could well be forgiven any sort of wild celebration, including charging down the touchline á la Mourinho/Jaissle, as Verona haven’t beaten Roma here since January 1973! They have encouragingly scored in four of their last five visits, but the magnitude of the task ahead is highlighted by Verona still possessing the league’s worst away record.
Mourinho might be relieved if Tammy Abraham gets on the scoresheet, as Roma haven’t lost any of his goalscoring outings this term. Cyril Ngonge is Verona’s man of the moment, having scored their only goals in each of their last two outings, both between the 30th and 55th minute. Verona have scored a league-low two Serie A away goals after half-time this term.