Roma are in the chase for a Champions League slot and currently being three points off fourth placed Internazionale and with a number of teams just on their back, the side from the capital has to engage a more stable gear to wade off the storm. Whether Claudio Ranieri is the man to take the team to the next level remains to be seen but at least for now he needs to get them to the top four. It will however not be easy against Empoli, who are just four points above the relegation region. Playing a side seeking to rise away from the drop zone will not be easy for Roma, and especially with the fact that Roma have not had a very stable performance defensively; they go to this clash having conceded 10 goals in the last five matches, an average of two goals per game. Empoli have also not been the best defensively as they head to this game though they have one clean sheet in their last five matches, unlike Roma, who have none. Empoli have conceded nine goals in the last five matches, just one better than Roma but both sides have conceded three times in each of their last two matches. The difference between the two sides come with their home and away runs; at home, Roma are unbeaten in eight home matches across all competitions. They have scored two or more in seven of the eight home matches and have managed just one clean sheet. Empoli on their part are winless in 12 away matches. They have lost four of the last five away matches in the league and have not won a league game away from home in the last 14 outings. Actually, they have managed just two wins in 21 away Serie A matches and have just one clean sheet in the process.
Rome must win absolutely. There have been many changes since the defeat and the subsequent exit from the Champions League, starting from the exemption of Di Francesco, continuing the call of the new coach Ranieri, ending the resignation of Monchi. The team has to give a strong signal to make it clear that he knows how to get up.
Roma at home are very strong. Playing with a new manager and trying to get back champions league slot, roma will try everything to win against visitors who are not a big team in serie A.
I think that Ranieri has improved the offensive phase in fact Roma tonight probably will play with 4-2-3-1 with Schick as forward, who wants to be decisive. Empoli's phase defensive is not very strong and they play in the Olympic Stadium of Rome, so it can be difficult to mantain an optimus defence.
Roma are in the chase for a Champions League slot and currently being three points off fourth placed Internazionale and with a number of teams just on their back, the side from the capital has to engage a more stable gear to wade off the storm. Whether Claudio Ranieri is the man to take the team to the next level remains to be seen but at least for now he needs to get them to the top four. It will however not be easy against Empoli, who are just four points above the relegation region. Playing a side seeking to rise away from the drop zone will not be easy for Roma, and especially with the fact that Roma have not had a very stable performance defensively; they go to this clash having conceded 10 goals in the last five matches, an average of two goals per game. Empoli have also not been the best defensively as they head to this game though they have one clean sheet in their last five matches, unlike Roma, who have none. Empoli have conceded nine goals in the last five matches, just one better than Roma but both sides have conceded three times in each of their last two matches. The difference between the two sides come with their home and away runs; at home, Roma are unbeaten in eight home matches across all competitions. They have scored two or more in seven of the eight home matches and have managed just one clean sheet. Empoli on their part are winless in 12 away matches. They have lost four of the last five away matches in the league and have not won a league game away from home in the last 14 outings. Actually, they have managed just two wins in 21 away Serie A matches and have just one clean sheet in the process.