Jose Mourinho shrugs off the growing absentee list at Roma and sees this showdown with Bologna as ‘an opportunity’ to get new faces in the side.
It kicks off at the Stadio Dall’Ara at 17.00 GMT.
These two teams are locked together and the winner will take fourth place, whereas a draw would send them both behind Napoli.
The Giallorossi were in action on Thursday in the Europa League against Sheriff Tiraspol and have a huge list of absentees, including Paulo Dybala, Houssem Aouar, Chris Smalling and the suspended Romelu Lukaku and Nicola Zalewski.
“We are without our two most important players upfront, but we have a good mentality. We played Thursday, there wasn’t much time to work specifically to prepare this match,” Mourinho told DAZN.
“Obviously, they are super important players, but this is the situation, one is injured, the other is suspended. We have to trust our players, as one door closes, another opens, and it is an opportunity for players to get a chance. They work hard and are prepared to play.”
Mou gave yet more youth team players their debuts in the Europa League on Thursday, with Niccolo Pisilli finding the net and bursting into tears, and there could be further revelations today.
“It is always a question mark with kids to see how they first react to the situations, but if they are here, it is because they can play and help the team. I like it when the Primavera win and today they won even without these talents, so that is even more reassuring.”
Thiago Motta worked with Mourinho at Inter and is now the coach of the high-flying Rossoblu.
“Bologna are a very good side, excellent coach, they brought in quality young players with a strong engine too. It is a difficult match for us, and a difficult match for them too.”