A rotation of the squad against Bologna can’t be excluded, as Roma coach Jose Mourinho risks losing four players to suspension ahead of the big game against Inter this weekend.
Mourinho might have one eye on the big game against his former club, as Inter could represent a possible turnaround and a needed win against one of the giants in the league.
Roma focus on the game against Bologna at the Renato Dall’Ara, but Mourinho might have to keep the game against the Nerazzurri in mind when he picks his starting XI.
Roma shared the spoils with leaders with Napoli, but suffered defeats against Juventus, Milan and Lazio earlier this campaign.
The fans are still waiting for a positive result against one of the giants and Mourinho is desperate to give them some joy when Inter arrive on Sunday.
This means he could sacrifice some of the key players in the game against Sinisa Mihajlovic’s men, as four important players are on a yellow card when Roma travel to Bologna.
Gianluca Mancini, Rick Karsdorp, Bryan Cristante and Tammy Abraham risk disqualification and with a yellow card against Bologna they would miss the match against Inter.
Cristante is still uncertain for the trip due to coronavirus, but the three others are normally starters and must be careful in the 90 minutes against a physical team.
Referee Luca Pairetto has been assigned the match between the Rossoblu and the Giallorossi and the 37-year-old has already handed out 19 yellow cards in four Serie A games this term.
He has been the match official in seven games across Serie A, Coppa Italia and Serie B, and has so far handed out two red cards and 31 yellow.
It’s difficult for Mourinho to leave some of the important players out, as Lorenzo Pellegrini is also ruled out with an injury until January.
But it cannot be ruled out and Marash Kumbulla could replace Mancini if the three-man defence is used.
However, replacing Karsdorp is not as easy, but Mourinho has previously shown that Stephan El Shaarawy can play as a wing-back, while Carles Perez could also be used.
Tammy Abraham is expected to start but is expected to be careful, as he should join Nicolò Zaniolo in attack.