Frosinone vs AS Roma
Serie A 2015/16
Date: Saturday, 12th September 2015
Time: 1800 hrs local time
Venue: Stadio Matusa
Live Stream: LIVSports
AS Roma will look to build their momentum ahead of a crucial Wednesday night Champions League clash against Barcelona as they travel to the little town of Frosinone to face the newly-promoted minnows. Roma have had a solid start to the 2015/16 campaign, and dominated defending champions Juventus in their last game before the international break en route a 2-1 win.
Captain Francesco Totti is yet to play this season and could be in contention for his first start after talismanic midfielder Miralem Pjanic suffered an injury during national team commitments. Pjanic’s absence leaves a creative hole in the side, and Totti’s return to the side could more than help fill the void. Should he play, the 38-year-old will make a Serie A appearance for the 24th consecutive season.
Minnows Frosinone have so far failed to register their first points on the board this season after suffering losses against Torino and Atalanta. Their 10,000-capacity Stadio Matusa will be a big draw tomorrow for the visit of Roma, one of the pre-eminent football clubs in Italian football.
Earlier this week, it was reported Roma’s vice-captain Daniele De Rossi is the highest earning player in Serie A, and his wages account for 81 percent of what the entire squad of Frosinone earns. Another interesting fact is the town of Frosinone’s entire population (50,000) wouldn’t be enough to fill Roma’s 72,698-capacity Stadio Olimpico, a fact which points to the huge gulf between the two clubs.
Andrea Gervasoni will officiate the game, which will be the 13th time the Mantova-born referee will have overseen a game involving Roma.
Frosinone v AS Roma: Team News and Probable Line-Ups
Frosinone are expected to line up with the same eleven which played in the loss at Atalanta in the previous gameweek. While new signing Alexander Tonev could be in line to make his first start for the Canaries, manager Roberto Stellone will likely keep his faith in the same group of players which started against Atalanta.
Probable line-up: Leali; Rosi, Diakite, Blanchard, Crivello; Paganini, Gori, Gucher, Soddimo; Longo, Dionisi
Roma manager Rudi Garcia will be without Pjanic’s services in midfield, which could prompt him to ring the changes. De Rossi, who played as a deep-lying playmaker in the centre-back position against Juventus in their last game, will be expected to be deployed in a more conventional midfield role while summer signing Antonio Rudiger is in line to make his first start.
Probable line-up: Szczesny; Florenzi, Manolas, Rudiger, Digne; De Rossi, Keita, Nainggolan; Salah, Dzeko, Falque.
Frosinone vs AS Roma: Key Stats
1 – This will be the first time both sides will have met in the top flight of Italian football, given Frosinone are playing for the first time in Serie A.
7 – With a win, Roma have the chance to go seven points clear of champions Juventus.
Form guide: Frosinone (L-L) Roma (D-W)
Prediction: Frosinone 1-1 AS Roma
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