Roma are brimming with confidence heading into tomorrow’s home game against Udinese after beating Fiorentina to take command of Serie A.
The Giallorossi won 2-1 in Florence on Sunday for their fourth straight victory in Italy and leap-frogged Fiorentina into first place.
Roma are now two points clear of Napoli, Fiorentina, Inter and Lazio, who are all level on 18 points after nine games played.
“We are going through a good spell but it’s early to make evaluations,” Roma general director Mauro Baldissoni told reporters yesterday.
“We are doing our job. There are many teams that are equipped to win the scudetto, not just us but so is Napoli, Juventus, Inter and Fiorentina.
“It’s a much more balanced season than with respect to the past and hence, it will be very difficult.
“We are coming off two campaigns where we finished second in the standings and we want to improve.”
Roma, coached by Rudi Garcia, are unbeaten at home and have the best attack in the competition with 22 goals.
The Giallorossi take on an Udinese side that edged Frosinone 1-0 on Sunday for their first win at the Friuli stadium this campaign.
Napoli, riding a four-match winning streak in Serie A, host Palermo tomorrow.
Argentinian forward Gonzalo Higuain scored in his third straight game on Sunday to fire Napoli to a 1-0 win at Chievo.
Higuain and Sampdoria’s Eder are joint top scorers in Italy’s top flight with seven goals apiece.
Fiorentina have lost their last three games in all competitions heading into the midweek match at lowly Verona, still winless after nine games.
Inter have not won since September 27 and have drawn their last three matches.
The Nerazzurri travel to the Renato Dall’ Ara stadium to face Bologna this evening.
Bologna recorded their second win of the campaign with a 2-1 victory at Carpi.
Lazio have won all of their league games at home but have struggled away from the Stadio Olimpico, taking just three points of a possible 12 on the road.
The Biancoceleste, boosted by Sunday’s 3-0 win over Torino, take on Atalanta in Bergamo.
Defending Italian champions Juventus have kept a clean sheet in their last three encounters in all competitions and take on Sassuolo looking to end their rivals’ unbeaten run at home.
Juve moved to 12th place in the standings after Sunday’s 2-0 over Atalanta. They are eight points adrift of Roma.
Sampdoria warmed up for Thursday’s home match against Empoli by brushing aside Verona 4-1 over the weekend to remain unbeaten at home.
Torino will seek home comfort when they host a Genoa side that has mustered just one point on the road this season. The Maroons are unbeaten in Turin and eighth in the standings.
Milan ended a three-match winless run by beating Sassuolo 2-1 on Sunday to climb into 10th place. The Rossoneri take on Chievo tomorrow night.
Frosinone and Carpi square off at the Matusa stadium with both sides playing in Italy’s top tier for the first time in their history.
Carpi lie at the foot of the standings with just one win to their name while Frosinone are looking for their third straight win at home this season.
Serie A fixtures
Playing today
Bologna vs Inter - 20.45
Tomorrow (20.45)
Atalanta vs Lazio
Frosinone vs Carpi
Milan vs Chievo
Napoli vs Palermo
Roma vs Udinese
Sassuolo vs Juventus
Torino vs Genoa
Verona vs Fiorentina
Thursday
Sampdoria vs Empoli - 20.45
| P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | |
| Roma | 9 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 22 | 11 | 20 |
| Napoli | 9 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 19 | 8 | 18 |
| Fiorentina | 9 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 16 | 8 | 18 |
| Inter | 9 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 9 | 7 | 18 |
| Lazio | 9 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 14 | 13 | 18 |
| Sassuolo | 9 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 12 | 10 | 15 |
| Sampdoria | 9 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 17 | 13 | 14 |
| Torino | 9 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 13 | 12 | 14 |
| Atalanta | 9 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 11 | 10 | 14 |
| Milan | 9 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 11 | 15 | 13 |
| Chievo | 9 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 13 | 9 | 12 |
| Juventus | 9 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 11 | 8 | 12 |
| Palermo | 9 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 11 | 13 | 11 |
| Udinese | 9 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 9 | 11 | 11 |
| Empoli | 9 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 10 | 14 | 10 |
| Genoa | 9 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 7 | 11 | 10 |
| Frosinone | 9 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 6 | 11 | 7 |
| Bologna | 9 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 6 | 14 | 6 |
| Verona | 9 | 0 | 5 | 4 | 8 | 15 | 5 |
| Carpi | 9 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 9 | 21 | 5 |
Top scorers
7 goals: Higuain (Napoli), Eder (Sampdoria).
6 goals: Insigne (Napoli).
5 goals: Kalinic (Fiorentina), Salah (Roma), Bacca (Milan).