Roma vs Salernitana

Roma’s 2023/24 Serie A campaign kicks off at the StadioOlimpico against last season’s bottom-half strugglers Salernitana.

Roma’s busted attempt to conquer the Europa League in 2022/23 backfired as they had to settle for a dismal sixth-place finish in Serie A in Jose Mourinho’s second season at the club. Without the glitter of Champions League football, the Italians lost Nemanja Matic to Rennes but recruited Leandro Paredes, HoussemAouar, and Renato Sanches to boost Mourinho’s midfield options. However, a lack of an out-and-out striker in the absence of Tammy Abraham doesn’t make good reading after Roma lamented the division’s ninth-best scoring record in 2022/23 (50). Though their profligacy emerged as the team’s Achilles heel last term, ‘I Giallorossi’ will be confident about packing a punch here, having netted 2+ goals in all three previous home league meetings with Salernitana (W2, D1).

Despite finishing 15th in Serie A last season, Salernitana had a relatively quiet transfer window. Apart from securing permanent contracts for BoulayeDia and Antonio Candreva, they couldn’t make any other high-profile acquisitions. Forced to operate on a tight budget, coach Paulo Sousa will have survival at the forefront of his mind this term after helping ‘I Granata’ finish 11 points clear of the relegation territory in 2022/23. However, improving on his side’s disappointing away form resides high on his list of priorities, with Salernitana picking up only two wins on 19 Serie A travels last season (D9, L8). Topically, they slumped to six draws and three defeats in their final nine away league matches toward the end of the 2022/23 campaign.