Roma are missing Lorenzo Pellegrini, Bryan Cristante and Andrea Belotti as well as coach Jose Mourinho, so Tammy Abraham and Gini Wijnaldum take on Domenico Berardi’s Sassuolo.
It kicks off at the Stadio Olimpico at 17.00 GMT.
You can follow all the build-up and action as it happens from today’s Serie A games on the LIVEBLOG.
Mourinho begins his two-match ban from the touchline, which will also see him barred from the Derby della Capitale against Lazio next week, so fans are planning a ‘pañolada’ in protest – waving white handkerchiefs in the Spanish style.
This could be a pivotal result, as a victory would allow Roma to leapfrog Lazio and catch Inter in joint second place.
Pellegrini is out after needing 30 stitches for a cut to his head sustained in Thursday’s 2-0 Europa League win over Real Sociedad, while Belotti broke his wrist.
Cristante is also suspended and Ola Solbakken not fully fit, so Wijnaldum and Stephan El Shaarawy support Abraham upfront.
Paulo Dybala is rested for the moment.
Sassuolo have Berardi back after he was suspended for the 3-2 thriller with Cremonese, leaving only Mert Muldur and Filippo Romagna on the treatment table.
Armand Laurienté is having a good campaign with five goals and five assists in 18 Serie A appearances.
The Neroverdi are climbing up the table fast after four wins, a draw and a defeat in their last six rounds.
Those included a 5-2 victory away to Milan and beating Atalanta.
It’s a special game for former Roma midfielder Davide Frattesi, who has made no secret of his desire to return to his hometown club.
Roma: Rui Patricio; Kumbulla, Smalling, Ibanez; Zalewski, Bove, Wijnaldum, Matic, Spinazzola; El Shaarawy; Abraham
Sassuolo: Consigli; Toljan, Tressoldi, Ferrari, Rogerio; Frattesi, Lopez, Henrique; Berardi, Pinamonti, Laurienté
Player statistic
| Chris Smalling |  |
9' | ||
| 13' |  |
Armand Lauriente | ||
| 18' | |
Armand Lauriente (Assist: Domenico Berardi) | ||
| Nicola Zalewski (Assist: Leonardo Spinazzola) |
|
26' | ||
| Marash Kumbulla |  |
45+3' | ||
| 45+4' |  |
Domenico Berardi |
| 50' | |
Maxime Lopez | ||
| Paulo Dybala (Assist: Stephan El Shaarawy) |
|
51' | ||
| Nemanja Matic | |
54' | ||
| 58' | |
Ruan Tressoldi | ||
| Roger Ibañez | |
73' | ||
| 75' | |
Andrea Pinamonti (Assist: Armand Lauriente) | ||
| Mady Camara | |
86' | ||
| Georginio Wijnaldum (Assist: Chris Smalling) |
|
90+4' |
Match statistic
