Roma Return to Serie A after Champions League Exit
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The final game of the weekend in the Italian Serie A is between Roma and Empoli at the Stadio Olimpico, Rome. This game will have major repercussions at the top and bottom end of the table.
Roma need to win in order to maintain their challenge for a top four spot and a place in the Champions League next season. Empoli are in a battle against relegation and a win would be a huge boost to their chances of survival.
It will be interesting to see the reception the Roma players receive when they come out on Monday night following their exit in the Champions League. Having led 2-1 from the first leg, Roma lost 3-1 in Porto after extra-time.
That result comes on the back of a 3-0 loss in the Rome derby last weekend and Roma have had a very disappointing week which led to the dismissal of their manager, Eusebio Di Francesco.
However, they cannot afford to feel sorry for themselves if they want to return to the Champions League next season and their recent home form in Serie A is good. Trends show Roma are undefeated in their last seven home league games and have won four of their last five Serie A matches at the Stadio Olimpico.
There have been wins over Sampdoria, Sassuolo, Genoa, Torino and Bologna. Interestingly, both teams have scored in each of their last seven home Serie A games and Roma have scored 2 or more goals in six of those matches.
Empoli travel to the Italian capital having picked up a point in a 3-3 home draw with Parma last weekend. They came back from a losing position three times and scored an equaliser in stoppage time to secure the draw.
Despite the fighting qualities shown in that game, trends show Empoli have won only four of their last twenty-five matches in Serie A. They have won one of their last seven, which came at home against Sassuolo in February.
Empoli have failed to win a Serie A game away from home this season, picking up just 4 points on their travels courtesy of draws at Cagliari, SPAL, Frosinone and Chievo Verona. They have conceded 2 or more goals in seven of their last eight away Serie A games and have failed to score a goal themselves in three of the last four.
Looking ahead to the team news and Roma have three players suspended for this game with Edin Dzeko, Federico Fazio and Aleksandar Kolarov all forced to sit this one out. Cengiz Under could return from injury to play a part.
Empoli continue without Lorenzo Polvani who is out for the remainder of the season with a knee injury. Luca Antonelli has a thigh problem and Levan Mchedlidze has a muscle injury which could keep both players out.
Roma need to bounce back strongly from their defeat in Porto and this looks like being the ideal game to do so. Empoli are poor on the road and Roma should win this one by scoring at least 2 goals and keeping a rare clean sheet.
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