Injury-hit Sassuolo have no choice but to try and attack AS Roma in search of much needed victory, with with Neroverdi already sitting five points behind safety. Meanwhile, the Giallorossi are searching for their fourth successive league triumph as they look to cement the second place in the standings.

Ten players on the sidelines

Even if the team managed to show a great deal of potential this season, everything suggests Sassuolo will not be able to avoid a straight return to Serie B. coach Eusebio Di Francesco, as well as his predecessors, have failed to find the right balance in the side, with the back line conceding goals for fun and numerous quality strikers not being able to fully express themselves due to constant changes to the starting line-up. As a result, Sassuolo face a very difficult task in an attempt to avoid the drop seeing as how they currently sit five points behind survival places. The Neroverdi are low on confidence following back to back defeats to Udinese and Sampdoria, while unbelievable injury problems only make matters worse. The back line that have already conceded 59 goals will have their work cut out for them now that Paolo Cannavaro has picked up an injury, while Acerbi, Marrone and Brighi continue to be sorely missed. The attacking trident of Zaza, Floccari and Berardi could create problems for opposition defenders, but that is unlikely to be enough for a positive result.

Acerbi, Alexe, Manfredini, Antei, Pucino, Marrone, Brighi, Sansone, Floro Flores and Cannavaro all miss out through injury.

Roma continue to impress

AS Roma have undergone a real resurgence under Rudi Garcia, although the club management also helped, having recruited some very good players in the summer before adding Radja Nainggolan in January. In spite of the ten-match winning run in the opening exchanges, the Giallorossi were unable to mount a serious title challenge, but they have to be congratulated for cementing the second place in the standings in Serie A. While suffering several unexpected slip-ups along the way, Roma have shown incredible consistency even when they were missing some key players, and the team are doing really well to compensate for the injured Kevin Strootman at the moment. Successive triumphs over Udinese, Chievo and Torino are enough to suggest the team are determined to finish the season on a high and the game against Sassuolo will feel as a perfect opportunity to improve on their 8-4-2 away record. Roma will be facing Parma in a rearranged game on Wednesday, but Rudi Garcia is unlikely to make major changes to the starting line-up.

Mehdi Benatia is back from suspension, but Douglas Maicon could miss out with a knee problem. Federico Balzaretti and Kevin Strootman are out injured.

Verdict

Sassuolo are not only under intense pressure as relegation looms, but they are missing too many important players to count. Meanwhile, AS Roma are again playing with a lot of confidence and I fully expect them to extend their winning run in Reggio Emilia.

Top pick: Away win   1.57 (4/7) @ William Hill

Alternative pick 1: Over 2.5 goals   1.91 (10/11) @ Coral

Alternative pick 2: Roma/Roma   2.40 (7/5) @ Betfair