Jose Mourinho gets his third campaign underway on Sunday and he will be hoping that these Roma vs. Salernitana predictions prove correct. The Giallorossi will be hoping to improve on last season’s sixth-place finish and should enjoy a relatively gentle start to the campaign.
Roma vs. Salernitana odds
1 – Roma to win – 6/11
2 – Under 2.5 goals scored – 49/20
3 – Only one team to score – 3/4
4 – Pellegrini to score anytime – 47/20
5 – Roma to score a penalty – 7/2
Roma welcome Salernitana to the Stadio Olimpico on Sunday, looking to protect their unbeaten record against the Granata. Paolo Sousa’s side finished 15th last season with a strong run of form securing Serie A survival and they are expected to struggle yet again this year.
Financial constraints mean that Salernitana have been quiet in the summer transfer market, although they moved decisively to secure Boulaye Dia, who scored 16 goals last season on loan from Villarreal. Many expected the forward to use this record to engineer a move to a club closer to Roma’s stature. But it appears he will be staying in Salerno for now.
That being said, the visitors will struggle to break down Roma on Sunday. Jose Mourinho’s side perpetuated their manager’s stereotype of defensive resilience last season, conceding the fourth fewest in Serie A. They have strengthened defensively over the summer, bringing in Evan Ndicka to replace Roger Ibanez, who is likely to slot straight into the back line.
Roma’s most significant change comes in midfield though, with Nemanja Matic leaving the club and Houssem Aouar, Renato Sanches and Leandro Paredes all on the verge of completing moves or already arrived. That trio offer a very different option to Matic and could see Mourinho move to a more technical, possession-based midfield.
With so many changes, it might take a while for the Giallorossi to find their form, especially when it comes to attacking play. As a result, we predict a low-scoring match on Sunday, with under 2.5 goals scored and one of the teams likely to keep a clean sheet.
Injury to Roma’s Tammy Abraham provides further reasoning for a low-scoring match at the Stadio Olimpico, with Andrea Belotti struggling for goalscoring form last season and Paolo Dybala suspended this weekend.
With their creative lynchpins out, the goalscoring burden may fall on captain Lorenzo Pellegrini, with his penalty-taking responsibilities a likely method of breaking the deadlock.
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Roma vs. Salernitana first five matches
Roma first five matches
Salernitana first five matches
Roma vs. Salernitana line-ups
Roma (3-4-2-1): Patricio; Mancini, Smalling, Ndicka; Karsdorp, Cristante, Bove, Zalewski; Aouar, Pellegrini; Belotti
Salernitana (3-4-2-1) Ochoa; Lovato, Gyomber, Pirola; Mazzocchi, Coulibaly, Coulibaly, Bradaric; Candrava, Castanos; Dia
Roma team news
With Tammy Abraham injured, Paolo Dybala suspended, and Nemanja Matic leaving the club, it will be a new-look Roma on Sunday. Neither Renato Sanches nor Leandro Paredes are expected to start but Houssem Aouar may well feature as an attacking midfielder or a makeshift winger.
Salernitana team news
Paolo Sousa is expected to stick with a tried and tested formula for the trip to the Stadio Olimpico. With Flavius Daniliuc the only injury absence, the coach may look to field both Lassana Coulibaly and Mamadou Coulibaly in central midfield, with Antonio Candreva supporting Boulaye Dia further forward.
Pellegrini is suspended as well… if you are not able to prepare yourself properly, better don’t comment …