Soccer Italy Serie A Prediction

AS Roma vs Spezia - Match Preview

⚽ 4 June 2023 - 19:00 GMT +0

Having fallen just short of UEFA Europa League (UEL) glory via penalties on Wednesday, Roma need to dust themselves down quickly and win against Spezia to secure an instant chance of turning their silver UEL medals into gold next term. They are clear favourites ahead of kick-off, though the effects of more than two hours of draining midweek action may well manifest, especially with José Mourinho’s men being winless in seven Serie A (SA) matches (D4, L3).

Due to this dismal domestic form, Roma’s return of seven wins to-nil from their first eight home league games of 2023 now seems like a distant memory rather than a source of inspiration. The Giallorossi also needed two equalisers to salvage something in their last home game (vs Salernitana), though they are otherwise perfect at the Stadio Olimpico in SA, clashes against sides sitting below their most recent visitors (W4).

While 17th-placed Spezia falls firmly into that category, they need only match Verona’s result at the San Siro to cement their place amongst Italy’s elite for a fourth successive season. Everything on paper points to both of the remaining relegation dogfighters losing, but Spezia will afford to bank on Verona losing as they aim to pull off a maiden league win over Roma at the sixth attempt (D1, L4 prior).

Strangely, it was against AC Milan – the very team who may end up doing them a favour in this final chapter – that Spezia recorded their sole win in 11 outings (D4, L6). A 4-0 loss to Torino last time out also marked a fourth multi-goal margin defeat across that period, while their SA record after conceding first away from home paints a grim picture too (W1, D2, L10).

📋 Players to watch: In addition to getting Roma’s first equaliser in their most recent home game, Stephan El Shaarawy poached a decisive opener in January’s reverse fixture (W 2-0). As for Spezia, M'Bala Nzola is still their only man to hit double figures this term and has seen four of his previous five penalty goals also act as matchwinners.

⚡ Hot stat: A majority (four) of Roma’s last seven as home wins have seen them lead 1-0 at half-time.