Roma need a victory to keep up with Juventus” data-scaytid=”3″>Juventus, but they host their old Coach Zdenek Zeman’s Cagliari” data-scaytid=”6″>Cagliari.
It kicks off at 14.00 UK time (13.00 GMT), click here for a match preview.
Roma need a victory to keep up with Juventus, but they host their old Coach Zdenek Zeman’s Cagliari.
It kicks off at 14.00 UK time (13.00 GMT), click here for a match preview.
The Giallorossi have a 100 per cent record so far this season, including a 5-1 Champions League destruction of CSKA Moscow on Wednesday night.
They paid a price for that victory, losing Juan Manuel Iturbe and ex-Cagliari defender Davide Astori to injury.
Rudi Garcia rotates his squad, bringing Mattia Destro, Alessandro Florenzi, Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa and Ashley Cole back into the starting XI.
Leandro Castan, Kevin Strootman, Marco Borriello and Federico Balzaretti are also unavailable.
It is a very special game for ex-Cagliari midfielder Radja Nainggolan, who still wears the Sardinian symbol on his shinpads, and Daniele Conti – the son of Roma legend Bruno.
Francesco Totti is “like a son” to Zeman, but sits this one out on the bench to begin with.
Above all, it is Zeman’s first step back into the Stadio Olimpico since he was sacked two years ago, his final game in charge funnily enough a home defeat to Cagliari.
The Sardinians are undefeated here since 2010-11, earning two victories and last season’s draw.
Victor Ibarbo is fit enough to start at last with Marco Sau and Diego Farias, while Conti has a habit of scoring against his hometown club. 20-year-old ex-Brescia man Alessio Cragno is a surprise pick in goal.
Roma: De Sanctis; Maicon, Yanga-Mbiwa, Manolas, Cole; Nainggolan, De Rossi, Keita; Florenzi, Destro, Gervinho
Cagliari: Cragno; Pisano, Rossettini, Ceppitelli, Avelar; Joao Pedro, Conti, Ekdal; Ibarbo, Sau, Farias