The Serie A action will start on Friday night this week and three of the top four are in action. As Roma have Champions League commitments on Tuesday night against Qarabag, the Italian league have scheduled their match with SPAL to take place on Friday night rather than Sunday. This will give Roma an opportunity to move closer to Napoli, Juventus or both plus close the gap on Inter Milan before they play their match on the weekend. SPAL will be hoping Roma take their eye off the ball in this match with Tuesday in mind and give them the chance to move out of the relegation zone.
Italian Serie A – Stadio Olimpico, Rome – Friday 18th November – 17:00 UK Time
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Draw Best Odd of: 13/2 at Ladbrokes |
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Roma
SPAL FerraraRoma Form
Prior to last weekend, Roma were on a tremendous run of 12 straight wins away from home in Serie A but this was ended with a disappointing 1-1 draw at Genoa. However, Roma are still in good form and have lost only one of their last 9 games in all competitions, which was a 2-0 defeat at Atletico Madrid in the Champions League.
In Serie A, Roma are unbeaten in their last 6 games and have won 5 of those matches with victories coming at home against Crotone, Bologna and bitter rivals Lazio. The away wins have been at Torino and Fiorentina. The only defeats for Roma this season have come against Napoli and Inter Milan, teams who are currently above them in the table.
SPAL Form
SPAL come into this match having been eliminated by Cittadella in the Coppa Italia on Tuesday night. This result followed a 2-1 loss at Chievo Verona in Serie A on Saturday and they will be looking to pick something up from this game and escape the relegation zone. Prior to the defeat at Chievo, SPAL were enjoying their best run of form this season, defeating Genoa at home and picking up points against Fiorentina and Atalanta, the latter of which was away from home.
However, away from home SPAL have lost 5 of their last 6 Serie A games and have won only one of their last 12 in the Italian top-flight. They must be at their best if they are to take anything from this match.
Team News
Roma have two players on the treatment table and full-back Rick Karsdorp and forward Gregoire Dufrel will miss the game through injury. The hosts will also be without their influential midfielder Daniele De Rossi who is suspended. SPAL travel with several players unlikely to take part in the match. Alex Meret, Fabio Della Giovanna, Filippo Costa and Bartosz Salamon are all injured.
Top Betting Tips
There is no getting away from the fact Roma are the better of the two teams and with home advantage should take maximum points from the game. You can back Roma at 1/6 with Ladbrokes to win the match. SPAL have had their struggles away from home this season and despite failing to win any of their 7 games, have scored a goal in each of their last 4, including a goal at Juventus. Roma to win and both teams to score is 9/5 at Ladbrokes.
Roma’s Stephan El Shaarawy scored the goal at Genoa on the weekend and will keen to add to his 4 league goals this season. El Shaarawy is 17/20 with William Hill to score at any time.