Roma vs Juventus

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Following a rare loss at home earlier this week, Roma aims to maintain their position in the top five of Serie A as they host Juventus at Stadio Olimpico this Sunday.

Both teams are vying for a place in the next season's Champions League, although neither has guaranteed their qualification yet.

In a repeat of last season's scenario, Roma finds themselves facing Bayer Leverkusen in the Europa League semi-finals, with the first leg held in Rome on Thursday.

Seeking retribution for their loss last year, Bayer Leverkusen not only extended their unbeaten streak but also took a significant step towards reaching the final against either Marseille or Atalanta BC.

Roma endured a 2-0 defeat, marking only their fourth loss since Daniele De Rossi took charge as interim head coach in January.

While De Rossi recently extended his contract, the likelihood of securing a trophy has diminished. However, he remains determined to guide his team to a crucial top-five finish in Serie A, securing Champions League qualification for the upcoming season.

After securing a 1-0 victory in the reverse fixture last December, Juventus has emerged victorious in four out of their last six Serie A matches against Roma, managing to keep a clean sheet in half of those encounters. This gives them a psychological edge as they prepare for their upcoming clash.

However, despite their recent dominance over Roma, Juventus finds themselves only six points ahead of their opponents in the league table. Their once-promising season has turned into a period of stagnation and mediocrity in recent months.

In their last three matches, Juventus has settled for draws against Torino, Cagliari, and AC Milan. This string of results has left Max Allegri's team nervously looking over their shoulders at the teams below them in the standings.

This season's second half has been particularly disappointing for Juventus, as they have only averaged 1.27 points per game, marking their worst performance since 2010. Allegri's future at the club has come under scrutiny as a result.

However, amidst the gloom, there is a glimmer of hope with the upcoming Coppa Italia final in Rome. Juventus secured their spot in the final with a 3-2 aggregate victory over Lazio. They will face Atalanta at the Stadio Olimpico, a venue where they have had previous success.

Despite their struggles in the league, Juventus is still on course to qualify for the Champions League next season. Allegri may argue that achieving this goal amidst a transitional period for the club represents a measure of success.

With Zeki Celik back in action following a UEFA suspension, Daniele De Rossi's options for Roma's upcoming match are bolstered further by the return of Diego Llorente and Leandro Paredes after serving bans from their last game against Napoli. Additionally, Rasmus Kristensen and Dean Huijsen, who weren't eligible for Europa League play, are also back in contention, giving the team flexibility for rotation ahead of their next fixture against Leverkusen.

One player who might benefit from a rest is Paulo Dybala, known for his injury susceptibility, especially since his prolific stint at Juventus. Dybala has been impactful since leaving Juve, involved in 40 goals in just 50 league appearances.

Dybala and Dusan Vlahovic, both instrumental in Serie A's goal tally this year, are likely to feature prominently in Sunday's match alongside Federico Chiesa.

Juventus' squad is nearly at full strength, with only Alex Sandro and Kenan Yildiz sidelined due to injury and illness, respectively. Max Allegri is expected to maintain a similar lineup to their recent goalless draw against Milan, with Chiesa filling in for Yildiz and Weston McKennie possibly stepping in for Timothy Weah, but no major changes anticipated beyond that.

When Roma and Juventus meet in a Serie A match on Sunday, a fierce battle is anticipated. Right now, it looks like both sides are evenly suited and could be set up to cancel each other out in this match.

With five Serie A teams qualifying for the Champions League, fifth-place Roma will have to fend off rivals like Lazio and Atalanta in the closing weeks of the campaign. They could benefit from moving up in the Serie A rankings, since their chances of qualifying for the Europa League have diminished following their 2-0 home loss to Bayer Leverkusen in the first leg of the semifinal on Thursday.

Roma has won three of their past six games in Serie A, but their recent performance has been erratic. In their previous meeting, Danielle De Rossi's team battled to a 2-2 draw against Napoli.

Juventus has had a challenging season, but they have an opportunity to close things out well. With a Coppa Italia final match against Atalanta scheduled for mid-May, they have a chance to compete for some hardware as well as a return to the Champions League as third-place finishers in the rankings.

Even though they seem to be doing well, Juventus hasn't been that convincing lately. Over their past four games, Massimiliano Allegri's team has not won and has drawn three of them, including their most recent 0-0 draw with AC Milan.