Roma have been confined to their Trigoria training ground ahead of tomorrow’s match against Udinese as exasperated coach Rudi Garcia tries to breathe new life back into his faltering side.
The only surprise after a dismal campaign in the second half of the season is that Roma have somehow managed to cling on to second place in the table and are still on course for the Champions League next season.
However, that has been down almost entirely to the inconsistencies of rivals Lazio and Napoli who have failed to capitalise on Roma’s insipid performances, and the Giallorossi are still far from certain of the top-three finish they need.
Garcia’s side were neck-and-neck with Juventus and looked capable of mounting a serious challenge for the Serie A title in the first half of the season.
But, since the halfway mark, they have managed a modest five wins and eight draws in 15 games, scoring only 17 goals, to leave them 16 points adrift of Juventus, who wrapped up the title with four games to spare.
The long-term absence of midfielder Kevin Strootman, with a knee injury, and full-back Leandro Castan, who underwent neurosurgery after complaining of dizzy spells, have not helped and now winger Gervinho has also been ruled out for the rest of the season.
Meanwhile, the decision to loan Mattia Destro to Milan appears to have backfired, especially as he scored against them in Roma’s 2-1 defeat at Milan last Saturday.
Gervinho’s absence at the African Nations Cup was another hurdle while his fellow Ivorian Seydou Doumbia, who arrived from CSKA Moscow in January with a prolific scoring record in the bag, has failed to spark, scoring only twice.
“The Champions League is something we absolutely must achieve, regardless of this result,” said director of football Walter Sabatini.
“For the first few weeks of the season they were excellent with a great mentality, then we slipped back,” he said, adding that the Milan performance was “disturbing”.
Roma are second with 64 points followed by Lazio on 63 and Napoli on 60.
A second-placed finish earns a place in next season’s Champions League group stage and the third-place teams goes into the final playoff round.
The good news for Roma is that Lazio have a tough match at sixth-placed Sampdoria this evening, however, Napoli host relegated Cesena on Monday.
Roma also face a derby against Lazio the following weekend, making it even more imperative they pick up three points against Udinese tomorrow night.
Meanwhile, Inter will be hoping Juventus are distracted by this week’s Champions League success and not fully concentrated on the task at hand when the two sides square off at the San Siro in today’s Derby d’Italia.
Juve qualified for their first Champions League final in 12 years after a 1-1 draw with Real Madrid at the Bernabeu on Wednesday saw them progress 3-2 on aggregate.
Inter, who won the Champions League in 2010, have endured a difficult 2014-15 campaign but are hoping to finish in the top six to qualify for the Europa League.
“We are ready to face Juventus,” Inter captain Andrea Ranocchia said.
“Our next three games are crucial for us to qualify for the Europa League, in which we are all hopeful. To have improved at the defensive end has been pivotal.”
Inter have won three of their last four league games, including a 2-1 triumph at Lazio in the last round, and have conceded just three goals in their last six matches.
Fixtures
Serie A
Playing today
Inter vs Juventus - 18.00
Sampdoria vs Lazio - 20.45
Tomorrow – 15.00
Atalanta vs Genoa
Cagliari vs Palermo
Roma vs Udinese - 20.45
Sassuolo vs Milan - 12.30
Torino vs Chievo
Verona vs Empoli
Monday
Fiorentina vs Parma - 19.00
Napoli vs Cesena - 21.00
Standings: Juventus 80; Roma 64; Lazio 63; Napoli 60; Fiorentina 55; Sampdoria 54; Genoa 53; Inter 52; Torino 48; Milan 46; Palermo 43; Chievo 42; Empoli, Udinese, Verona 41; Sassuolo 40; Atalanta 36; Cagliari 28; Cesena 24; Parma 17.
Serie B
Played yesterday
Perugia vs Carpi - 2-0
Today – 15.00
Avellino vs Trapani
Bari vs Brescia - 18.00
Catania vs Cittadella
Entella vs Latina
Frosinone vs Crotone
Livorno vs Vicenza
Modena vs Ternana
Pro Vercelli vs Bologna
Varese vs Pescara
Lanciano vs Spezia
Leading standings: Carpi 79; Frosinone 68; Vicenza, Bologna 64; Perugia 63; Spezia 61; Pescara, Livorno, Avellino 58; Bari 51.