Preview: Roma vs. Sassuolo

Roma will be looking to take advantage of closest rivals Juventus and Napoli meeting this weekend when they host newly-promoted Sassuolo on Sunday afternoon.

The Giallorossi's winning run under Rudi Garcia was ended at 10 matches by a 1-1 draw at Torino last weekend, but they still sit three points clear in Serie A after a superb start to the campaign.

Garcia will be without defensive linchpin Mehdi Benatia for the clash with Sassuolo through suspension, with Nicolas Burdisso partnering Leandro Castan at centre-back as Roma look to maintain their record of not conceding at the Stadio Olimpico this season.

Gervinho is back in contention following three weeks out with a hamstring injury but is unlikely to start, with Alessandro Florenzi and Miralem Pjanic expected to continue in wide roles supporting lone striker Marco Borriello.

Sassuolo have close to a full compliment available for Sunday's trip to the Eternal City, as they bid for back-to-back wins for the first time this season.

Simone Zaza missed their 4-3 win at Sampdoria as he sat out a ban but is back to compete with Antonio Floro Flores for a starting spot, while Domenico Berardi is a forward in form following a hat-trick last weekend.

Recent form

Roma: WWWWWD

Sassuolo: DLWDLW

Possible starting lineups

Roma: De Sanctis; Maicon, Leandro Castán, Burdisso, Balzaretti; Bradley, De Rossi, Strootman; Pjanic, Florenzi, Borriello

Sassuolo: Pegolo; Antei, Bianco, Acerbi; Schelotto, Kurtić, Magnanelli, Marrone, Longhi; Berardi, Zaza

Sports Mole says: 2-0