Roma vs Fiorentina

Roma and Fiorentina will face off against each other at the Stadio Olimpico in an exciting Serie A showdown.

Roma’s seventh-place finish in 2020/21 – their lowest rank since 2011/12 – coincided with their worst defensive record since 2008/09, with ‘I Giallorossi’ conceding 58 goals, more than any other top-ten side. Who better than new manager Jose Mourinho to plug defensive gaps, with Tammy Abraham joining the club from Chelsea to replace outgoing Edin Dzeko. Despite a leaky campaign, only Napoli had a better defensive record at home than Roma last term as the capital-based team conceded an average of just 0.95 goals per home league game. Indeed, the hosts kept a league-high nine home clean sheets in 2020/21, including a 2-0 win over Fiorentina in this exact fixture last season. Moreover, Roma have won each of their previous four top-flight meetings with this opposition by an aggregate score of 10-3.

Meanwhile, Fiorentina’s path to redemption following a dreadful 2020/21 campaign that saw them pick up their lowest point tally (40) since the introduction of a ‘three-points-per-win’ system begins in the capital. Despite drawing their final three away Serie A matches of last season, a stalemate might not necessarily be the likeliest outcome here. In fact, ‘La Viola’ have not drawn any of their previous ten opening Serie A fixtures (W6, L4). They have also lost each of their last three top-flight season openers at the Stadio Olimpico. Amongst the sides that avoided relegation in 2020/21, only Bologna (15) amassed fewer away points than Fiorentina (16), with the visitors lamenting a disappointing 15.79% win ratio on the road last season. With Fiorentina failing to win three consecutive top-flight trips to Rome (D1, L2), the travelling fans have every reason for concern.