Roma welcome a struggling AC Milan side to the Stadio Olimpico on Sunday for what promises to be a lively clash in Serie A.
The home side have gone four games in all competitions without a home win, while Milan find themselves in 12th position following a poor start to their 2019-20 campaign.
Match preview
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Roma entered the 2019-20 campaign with a blank slate following the installation of new manager Paulo Fonseca and the departure of club legend Daniele De Rossi.
However, their performances and results so far this term have been reflective of nothing much changing, with Roma sitting in the familiar position of sixth place after eight games.
Perhaps this should not come as such a surprise, however, given that Roma have made nine managerial appointments in as many years, with Luciano Spaletti's tenure between 2005 and 2010 serving as the last time that the club had a manager keep his position for three full seasons or more.
It seems as if Roma players, regardless of who occupies the dugout, have a way of making life tricky for opponents, with key players such as Edin Dzeko, Aleksandar Kolarov and Javier Pastore setting a tone of aggression and acute discipline.
Moreover, the home side will be especially fired up on Sunday as they look to avenge a 1-1 draw with Borussia Monchengladbach during which loanee Chris Smalling was wrongly penalised for a handball in the box in the 94th minute, the ball clearly hitting his face instead.
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Roma may have a proclivity towards changing managers regularly but it by no means stacks up to the sheer chaos that is AC Milan in 2019.
Less than 10 years ago, Milan were an established power of Europe, competing for the Serie A title each year and boasting household names such as Andrea Pirlo, Ronaldinho and David Beckham.
The appointment of Stefano Pioli as manager earlier this month makes it eight managers since the decision to sack Massimiliano Allegri in 2014, making the role something of a poisoned chalice at a club that has also gone through three different owners over this period.
Last season's fifth-place finish was the club's highest since 2013, but even that achievement has been overshadowed by Milan receiving a ban from playing European football this season due to Financial Fair Play rules.
Having overseen just one game as Milan manager so far, a 2-2 draw with Lecce, Pioli must find a way of engendering some stability as he looks to stop the rot at this once-great club.
Recent Roma form: LWDDDD
Recent AC Milan form: WLLLWD
Team News
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Roma continue to be without Arsenal loanee Henrikh Mkhitaryan, whose thigh problem looks likely to keep him sidelined until next month.
Both Davide Zappacosta and Devid Eugene Bouah are out for a long period of time due to cruciate ligament injuries, while talented youngster Cengiz Under is also set to spend some time on the sidelines as a result of a hamstring problem.
Bryan Cristante and Nikola Kalinic, two important players, are both set to return in 2020 due to respective groin and knee injuries, although Amadou Diawara should be back next week.
Lorenzo Pellegrini, a highly-rated youngster, is a month away from recovering from a broken foot. Another starlet, Patrick Kluivert, is suspended after being sent off for simulation in Roma's last domestic game.
For Milan, Mattia Caldara, who recently returned to training, is the only senior member of the squad guaranteed to miss Sunday's fixture.
Roma possible starting lineup:
Lopez; Spinazzola, Fazio, Smalling, Kolarov; Mancini; Veretout, Pastore, Zaniolo, Florenzi; Dzeko
AC Milan possible starting lineup:
Donnarumma; Calabria, Romagnoli, Musacchio, Hernandez; Biglia, Kessie, Rebic; Calhanoglu, Suso, Piatek
We say: Roma 2-0 AC Milan
Milan have the feeling of a team in disarray, currently going through yet another cycle of change, and have only won three times this season - a worse record than Manchester United. Meanwhile, Roma will be determined to get a bitter taste out of their mouths in the wake of Thursday's last-minute equaliser.
Leo Nieboer
