Jose Mourinho admits Roma will find it ‘tough’ against Atalanta without Chris Smalling and says his 100 games at the club ‘went by so fast because it was a pleasure.’
It kicks off at the Gewiss Stadium in Bergamo at 19.45 UK time (18.45 GMT).
You can follow all the build-up and action as it happens on the LIVEBLOG.
There is a great deal at stake for the Serie A table in this fixture, because a win would allow Roma to catch Juventus in third place, whereas Atalanta’s victory would keep them in the race for the top four and see Milan tie the Giallorossi in fourth.
Smalling and Gini Wijnaldum picked up injuries during the 4-1 extra time Europa League quarter-final win over Feyenoord, so they are out for several weeks.
“It is tough, because Smalling is a very important player, aside from his tactical strength, he is also a player with a leadership role in defence. We know that we had problems every time Smalling didn’t play. Now we will be without him for a few games, we don’t know how many games, we’ll have to get it done with the players we have,” Mourinho told DAZN.
“They understand the mechanisms and system, but obviously they are different players with different characteristics.
“If Dybala is on the bench, it is because he is not in top shape, but he is also not there just to mess around like in other teams when they put players on the bench. He can play.”
This is Mourinho’s 100th match on the Roma bench and the Special One admits he had not realised the milestone was coming up.
“It has gone by so fast! I didn’t realise it, they told me this morning. It was quick because we played so many games in Europe and the fact it felt fast means it was a pleasure.”