Both safely through to the cup quarter-finals in midweek, Roma and a Fiorentina side three places behind them in the Serie A standings clash at Stadio Olimpico on Sunday night.
Continuing a successful return from the winter break, the Giallorossi's Coppa Italia success against Genoa followed a fightback to draw with the champions last week; meanwhile, their Viola visitors have also posted two wins and a draw in 2023.
Match preview
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Building on a brilliant late rally which earned them an improbable point at San Siro last weekend, Roma continued their unbeaten start to the year by beating Serie B side Genoa to a place in the Coppa Italia's last eight, where they will meet the winner of next Tuesday's Napoli-Cremonese tie.
Two late strikes from Roger Ibanez and Tammy Abraham had stolen a draw against Milan in dramatic circumstances - ensuring that both the Scudetto-holders and Juventus remained within six points of them in the table - and it took a moment of magic from recent world champion Paulo Dybala to seal safe passage in the cup.
After racking up a total of 25 shots and some 16 corners, Roma were deserved winners in the end, and it was Dybala's eighth goal of the season which broke the deadlock midway through the second half.
The capital club now return to Serie A duty in search of further success, but having drawn three of their last four league games - as many as in their previous 18 - coach Jose Mourinho will be keen to fully capitalise on home advantage this Sunday.
His side have scored the highest proportion of their goals from set-pieces so far this season - a remarkable 48% (10 out of 21) - so can certainly pose a threat to their latest opponents from dead balls, with powerful defenders such as Chris Smalling and Roger Ibanez supplementing the free-kick mastery of captain Lorenzo Pellegrini and spot-kick skills of top scorer Dybala.
Roma have also won eight of their last 10 Serie A matches against Fiorentina at the Olimpico - scoring 25 goals in the process - and were unbeaten in seven of the clubs' last eight league meetings, so recent history is on their side too.
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Indeed, Fiorentina's only win in that 10-game spell came most recently of all - a 2-0 home victory last May - and the Viola could now win successive fixtures versus their Roman rivals for the first time in a decade.
They travel to the capital on this occasion with a place in the Coppa Italia quarter-finals in their grasp, after Czech playmaker Antonin Barak scored the only goal against last-16 opponents Sampdoria in midweek and earned his team a second straight win.
Having stumbled through the first phase of the season, in contrast to a promising 2021-22 campaign, Fiorentina have drawn with in-form Monza and then beaten Sassuolo since returning to competitive action - perhaps signalling brighter times ahead.
Vincenzo Italiano's men will no doubt be targeting the Tuscan club's first Coppa triumph for over 20 years, and they also remain Europa Conference League contenders, but their main aim in the coming weeks will be to make up lost ground in Serie A.
Last Saturday's win over Sassuolo moved them up to ninth in the standings, but matching last season's seventh-placed finish could prove a real stretch - both Atalanta and Roma lie eight points ahead of them after 17 rounds of action.
Team News
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While Jose Mourinho awaits further news on the fitness of Roma skipper Lorenzo Pellegrini, who injured his thigh and was withdrawn at half time against Genoa, only Georginio Wijnaldum is definitely ruled out by injury.
Back-three regular Roger Ibanez must serve a suspension, though, so Chris Smalling should return to the side and Marash Kumbulla could keep his place.
Bryan Cristante, Zeki Celik and Paulo Dybala are among several others back from the start too; Edoardo Bove and Stephan El Shaarawy will make way.
Fiorentina also have a fitness concern emanating from their Coppa Italia tie, as Lucas Martinez Quarta came off following a heavy blow to his knee and may have to be replaced by Brazilian centre-back Igor.
Arthur Cabral, Rolando Mandragora and winger Riccardo Sottil are all set to miss the trip to Rome, while Nicolas Gonzalez could be nearing a move to Leicester City if a deal can be struck between the Premier League club and Viola president Rocco Commisso.
Midweek match-winner Antonin Barak has scored in both of his last two league meetings with Roma, after failing to find the net in each of his first six, and will hope to keep his place in support of Luka Jovic up front.
Roma possible starting lineup:
Patricio; Mancini, Smalling, Kumbulla; Celik, Cristante, Pellegrini, Zalewski; Dybala, Zaniolo; Abraham
Fiorentina possible starting lineup:
Terracciano; Dodo, Milenkovic, Igor, Biraghi; Amrabat, Duncan; Ikone, Barak, Kouame; Jovic
We say: Roma 1-1 Fiorentina
This one could go the distance: Roma have scored six of their last seven Serie A goals after the 80th minute, while Fiorentina have netted the most of any side in the 90th minute and beyond (five). As such, plenty of twists and turns may be in store, though the spoils are likely to end up being shared in the end.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Jonathan O'Shea
