Serie A Week 24 – 12 Feb 2017 (11.30 UK)
Crotone – Roma
Stadio Ezio Scida


Crotone vs Roma Preview and Prediction

Crotone host another top side after defeat by Juventus midweek, as second-placed Roma are on a roll.

Facing relegation and perhaps question marks about his future, Coach Davide Nicola needs a reaction from his team and look to build on their relatively strong showing for much of the rescheduled Week 18 match. The Giallorossi won in glorious fashion in their Tuesday night thrashing of Fiorentina 4-0, and will travel south with confidence flying high.

Following a respectable midweek performance, albeit in a loss, Crotone will be wanting to continue their defensive progress. Against Juventus, Nicola’s men managed very well to limit spaces in between the lines, giving their opponents little time to build their attack. The Rossoblu attack left a lot to be desired, only attempting a couple of shots on Gigi Buffon.

With their season very much hanging in balance, they will be playing for pride and some are using big matches as a theatre to showcase their value. The home side looks to leading goalscorer Diego Falcinelli as their attacking talisman, the Sassuolo loanee with eight goals.

Roma enter the weekend coming off a 4-0 home victory and will expect to dominate their opponent for the second consecutive match. Spalletti and his players have very little room for error, with challenging Napoli only two points behind them. Mohamed Salah should be back in the starting XI after the Africa Cup of Nations.

The Giallorossi midfield is as strong as any in Serie A, with Kevin Strootman back to full fitness and Daniele De Rossi and Radja Nainggolan filling the skilled hard-nosed roles. Their passing and willingness to work together to win the ball back was the difference maker against Fiorentina, and it allowed them to create numerous chances. Edin Dzeko was a constant threat in the midweek clash as well, scoring a brace to move into first position in the Capocannoniere race with 17 goals.


Crotone struggles will likely continue on Sunday, and their biggest challenge in the coming months is just as much psychological as it is physical. How they can cope with the obvious gap between themselves and major teams will be the theme of this and matches to come.

For Spalletti and Roma, it’s an important three points on the road to help them continue to compete against Juventus and Napoli for the Scudetto.

Keep an eye on: Edin Dzeko (Roma) – The Bosnian striker currently leads the Capocannoniere race with 17 goals. His return to top scoring form this season under Luciano Spalletti is one of the most important reasons for Roma’s consistent play and Scudetto challenge. Trust the forward to add to his tally this weekend against a struggling Crotone team.


Form Guide: Crotone (L L W D L) Roma (W L W W W)

Last season: Not played

Stat fact: The only ever competitive meeting was back in September, Roma winning 4-0 with a Dzeko brace. Wojciech Szczesny saved a penalty.

Top tip: Dzeko to score anytime

Crotone (probable): Cordaz; Rosi, Ceccherini, Ferrari, Martella; Simpirisi, Barberis, Capezzi, Stoian; Trotta, Falcinelli

Suspended: Crisetig

Roma (probable): Szczesny; Manolas, Fazio, Rudiger; Peres, De Rossi, Strootman, Emerson; Nainggolan, Salah; Dzeko

Suspended: None