The international break wasn’t kind to Roma in terms of the injury bug that has plagued the capital all season. While away on international duty, both Alessandro Florenzi and Stephan El Sharaawy were added to Roma’s injury list without seeing a minute of game time for Italy. Lorenzo Pellegrini remains out, as well. However, in some positive news, Aleksandar Kolarov, Cengiz Ünder, Daniele De Rossi, and Kostas Manolas will all be back in the fold, albeit most of them will likely not be fit enough to play 90’. Ranieri is again expected to employ an offensive 4-4-2 against Carlo Ancelotti’s side, who will be without Lorenzo Insigne. Starting in goal will be Robin Olsen, despite the speculation by some that he’d be benched in favor of Antonio Mirante—Ranieri confirmed this during his pre-match presser. “No. I think Robin is an excellent goalkeeper. I was keeping tabs on him even before he joined Roma. He has my full confidence.” On defense the big question revolves around Kostas Manolas and if he’s healthy enough to start. To that Ranieri, said, “I have a number of players who are close to returning. Kostas will train with us today. They all want to play and show they’re available in this tough spell so that’s great news. It’s up to me to make the calls. He’s told me he wants to play but I want to assess everything carefully.” If Manolas is ready he should start, but Ranieri doesn’t seem convinced quite yet and it’ll likely be a game-time decision. With that in mind it’s possible that Federico Fazio and Ivan Marcano will be tasked with keeping Napoli’s potent attack in check. Kolarov should be good to go on the left and Davide Santon will start on the right. The four man midfield will have an attacking look with Nicolò Zaniolo playing wide right and Diego Perotti or Justin Kluivert on the left; Gazzetta is currently favoring Kluivert 60/40. Centering those two will be Bryan Cristante and Steven N’Zonzi; seeing that DDR is lacking fitness and Pellegrini is unavailable. Rounding out the XI will be the two forwards, Patrik Schick and Edin Dzeko.<doc-sep>My standard routine when writing a match preview, particularly after an international break, is to give myself a quick refresher: what's the current form, who's injured, who's suspended, who's fighting each other in the locker room, etc. It's a pretty basic routine, and one I'm sure many of you do as well, but with seven plus years of writing match previews under my belt, I like to think I've become a fine-tuned match previewing machine, but I just experienced something brand new. When looking back at Roma's most recent matches, I couldn’t believe what I saw. Now, I don't claim to have an iron clad memory, but Holy Moses, Roma lost to SPAL....again!? Perhaps it was due to the international break, or the rare two-fixture week for the women's team last week, but I honestly forgot (or suppressed the memory of) that match. Roma vs. Napoli: March 31st. 15:00 CET/9:00 EDT. Stadio Olimpico, Roma. But it was all too real. Roma dropped six points...six!...to SPAL this year, and thanks to that most recent stinker, Roma have lost three of their past four matches, squandering an opportunity to claim fourth place in the process. Not only that, now that Inter have seemingly sorted things out (four wins in their past six) Roma's four point deficit behind them might as well be forty. Things are tough in Roma town, that's for sure, and this weekend offers no quarter either as second place Napoil visit the Olimpico on Sunday. Napoli may be a distant second to Juventus but their +29 goal differential speaks to their balance and effectiveness through the season's first 28 rounds. However, Carlo Ancelotti's bunch aren't exactly lighting the world afire at the moment, having only won two of their past six matches. Similarly, despite the high flying reputation they earned under Maurzio Sarri (and maintained by Carletto), Roma has played Napoli quite tough over the past few seasons, winning three of the past six fixtures. And, were it not for a last dash goal from Dries Mertens, that stretch could have been four in six... Last Match October 28, 2018: Napoli 1, Roma 1 This. This was a bitter pill to swallow. After seizing the lead in the 14th minute thanks to Stephan El Shaarawy, Roma held the vaunted Napoli attack in check for, like, 99% of the match, but then came stoppage time and Mertens’ swift kick to Roma's groin. Losing in the 90th + is nothing new for Roma, but this one took the cake. Start with Lorenzo Insigne's flying out of bounds cross to Jose Callejon—how in the world did the track that down let alone play it so accurately to Callejon? And for that matter, look at Callejon's subsequent attempt; it was a complete miss-hit, a total flub that inexplicably fell to Mertens, who was now wide open because Aleksandar Kolarov was so focused on Callejon. Don't get me wrong, the pre-Insigne buildup was quite lovely, but there was more than just a bit of luck at play here, right? Either way, chalk it up to another wasted opportunity for Roma, one they can ill afford this time around. Roma Can Win This One, I'm Just Not Sure How Roma are fighting, but fighting is normal. Roma are selling, but they might also be buying. Roma are building a stadium. Roma aren't building a stadium. Roma are....Roma-ing. This international break has brought out the worst aspects of the 24/7 news cycle, hasn't it? All that being said, I have no idea how, despite their recent record of success against them, Roma can pull this one off, and that's not me being eternally pessimistic; the team is in such an odd state of affairs right now that it's hard to predict how they'll play from one moment to the next. It feels like a lifetime ago, but Claudio Ranieri is only preparing for his third match in charge of Roma. The Giallorossi haven't looked entirely convincing under the Tinkerman yet, barely hanging on against Empoli and failing to show up against SPAL immediately prior to the break. Granted, Ranieri was dealing with a spate of injuries and suspensions, but there is simply no excuse for losing to SPAL. But, Claudio's luck may be beginning to change. Late this week, Ranieri was granted a bit of a reprieve when Daniele De Rossi and Aleksandar Kolarov (and possibly even Cengiz Ünder and Kostas Manolas) were given clean bills of health...maybe. They’re top players and if I had them both in the team, it would be massive for me and the fans. Slowly but surely they’re all getting back to their best but they’re not quite there yet. I have to assess all our options. I don’t like to risk losing a player for three matches just so he can play one. That’s always been my philosophy and I’ll weigh everything up carefully. Which brings me back to our prior point: take the managerial change, Roma's poor form under the waning days of EDF, and the simple fact that we don't know who is even going to play, and Roma become damn near impossible to predict. A point not lost on tomorrow's opposing manager: Roma are under pressure and that can make the players even more motivated. The psychological strength is in our hands and we’ll see if that situation increases Roma’s concern or their courage. Ancelotti went on to say "You know, this wouldn't be a problem if I were managing Roma”...at least that's what people were saying in the break room at lunch yesterday, but I can't be certain. What is certain, however, is that this is a must win for Roma; a statement we can safely apply to the remaining ten matches. Claudio Ranieri and Roma have ZERO margin for error any more; I'm not suggesting they need to grab 30 points from their remaining matches, but no way in hell they're getting fourth place without netting at least 24 of those points.<doc-sep>Napoli thrashed Claudio Ranieri's Roma 4-1 at the Stadio Olimpico on Sunday, with Arkadiusz Milik and Dries Mertens among the scorers. Milik put the visitors ahead in just the second minute with his 16th Serie A goal of the season. Roma levelled in first-half stoppage time through Diego Perotti's penalty, but Belgian international Mertens put Napoli back in front four minutes after the break. Simone Verdi made it 3-1 five minutes later and substitute Amin Younes added a fourth with nine minutes of normal time remaining. Roma's defeat allowed Atalanta to move above them in the table courtesy of a 3-1 win at Parma. Gervinho gave the home side an early lead, but Mario Pasalic equalised after 24 minutes and Duvan Zapata scored twice in the last 15 minutes to seal the points. Lazio kept alive their hopes of a top-four finish as Sergej Milinkovic-Savic's first-half goal proved enough to secure a 1-0 win at third-placed Inter Milan. The visitors - aiming to close the gap on AC Milan, who occupy fourth spot - broke the deadlock in the 13th minute when Luis Alberto's cross was floated to the back post, where Milinkovic-Savic headed in. Inter saw a goal from a free-kick ruled out for being taken in the wrong position too quickly, before goalkeeper Samir Handanovic made a superb fingertip save to deny Alberto another for Lazio in first-half stoppage time. The home side stepped things up following the restart, with Matias Vecino sending a free header straight at the Lazio keeper. However, it took a fine stop from Handanovic at the other end to prevent Lazio substitute Felipe Caicedo from chipping the keeper after he was played clear by Ciro Immobile. The hard-earned victory sees Lazio move to just three points behind AC Milan, and having played a match less. Bologna boosted their survival hopes with a dramatic 2-1 win over Sassuolo thanks to a 96th-minute winner. Erick Pulgar's penalty gave the home side the lead midway through the second half. Sassuolo, though, looked to have snatched a point when Jeremie Boga fired home in the first minute of injury time. However, Bologna were not to be denied and Mattia Destro's header in the dying seconds gave them all three points. SPAL claimed a vital win in the relegation battle with a 1-0 victory at lowly Frosinone, who are now 10 points from safety. Francesco Vicari scored the only goal in the 13th minute. Fiorentina had to settle for a point at home to Torino after Daniele Baselli cancelled out Giovanni Simeone's early opener.<doc-sep>C arlo Ancelotti insists it is far too soon to think about Arsenal as he prepares his Napoli side for Sunday's Serie A trip to Roma. Napoli face the Gunners in the Europa League quarter-finals next month. That competition is now Napoli's only realistic hope of silverware this season as they trail Serie A leaders Juventus by 15 points. But Ancelotti does not want to see his team's grip on second place loosened and is wary of a Roma side pushing for Champions League qualification. Ancelotti told reporters at his pre-match press conference: "Going with the thought of the London game would be crazy. Let's think about tomorrow's match and face Roma with the right attitude. Arsenal v Newcastle: Premier League match preview "From Roma, I expect a big game. They are under a lot of pressure these days and this will lead the players to be motivated and eager to give their best. We must play with courage and intensity." Ancelotti, the veteran former boss of AC Milan, Juventus, Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich, is also a revered figure at Roma following his successful playing career. The game marks his first return to the Stadio Olimpico as an opposition manager since he left Milan in 2009. The 59-year-old said: "They represent something special for my career, I was there for eight years. That period there remains in my heart." Napoli, who have a seven-point cushion over third-placed Inter Milan, will be without striker Lorenzo Insigne due to a muscle problem but he could return for the midweek trip to Empoli. Ancelotti will come up against another experienced campaigner in Claudio Ranieri, the former Fulham manager who took caretaker charge of Roma earlier this month. In Pictures | Al-Nasr vs Arsenal | 26/03/2019 1 /28 In Pictures | Al-Nasr vs Arsenal | 26/03/2019 REUTERS REUTERS REUTERS REUTERS REUTERS REUTERS REUTERS Arsenal FC via Getty Images Arsenal FC via Getty Images REUTERS Arsenal FC via Getty Images REUTERS REUTERS REUTERS REUTERS REUTERS REUTERS REUTERS REUTERS Arsenal FC via Getty Images Arsenal FC via Getty Images Arsenal FC via Getty Images Arsenal FC via Getty Images Arsenal FC via Getty Images Arsenal FC via Getty Images Arsenal FC via Getty Images Arsenal FC via Getty Images Arsenal FC via Getty Images The 67-year-old's aim is to secure a top-four spot. His side are currently fifth with a four-point gap to make up on AC Milan. Ranieri is demanding a response after criticising the team following their loss to SPAL last time out. Ranieri said on the club's website, www.asroma.com: "If I used strong words, it's because I expect a strong reaction from the team. "As a coach, you always do things for a reason. What I expect from the Roma players, who are very good players, is a big show of character.<doc-sep>
In the buildup to the match, I shed a bit of light on my typical match preview routine, and the same method applies for post match coverage. I try to provide a bit of context in the preamble—what Roma were facing, how they lined up, what a victory would have meant, etc.—before diving into the particulars of the match: the tactics, the goals, second half changes and so on and so forth. However, thanks to their complete no-show today, and a gutless one at that, Roma have spared me (and you) a bit of time. Once Arkadiusz Milik BLASTED the ball past a hapless Robin Olsen in only the second minute, this thing was done and dusted. Roma tucked their tails between their legs and looked completely absent out there, in mind, body and spirit. This was about as low as we've seen a Roma side since the darkest days of Rudi Garcia; they didn't know where to turn or how to break down Napoli, and what's worse, they didn't even seem to care. Good god, what a first touch. Amazing goal by Milik for Napoli. pic.twitter.com/z8GwvgvqbD — Josh Howe (@JoshO567) March 31, 2019 The ESPN announcers were perhaps a bit harsh on Olsen here, questioning his positioning and reflexes, and perhaps they had a point, but using that line of reasoning sort of cheapens Milik's individual effort here. From the touch and awareness to the laser like finish from that tight angle, this was a world class effort in every shape and form. Don't get me wrong, Olsen was terrible today and has been poor pretty much this entire calendar year, but there isn't much he could have done there. The next 43 minutes were all about Napoli. Milik, Callejon and Mertens had their way with the Roma back line, while Koulibaly absorbed whatever “attack” Roma could muster with relative ease. And in grand Roma fashion, their only shred of hope came thanks to the referee, who called a last gasp penalty on Napoli in the 45th + minute. Diego Perotti from the penalty spot is pretty much the only sure thing Roma has at this stage in the game, and Roma's number eight didn't disappoint there, beating Meret with his patented nonchalant walk up. At this point in the match, Roma had only mustered three total shots, with Perotti's penalty marking their only attempt on target through the first 45 minutes. Perotti's precision from the spot put Roma on level pegging with Napoli; completely and utterly undeserved level pegging. Roma's attack relying on penalties to score goals. pic.twitter.com/XjmOGOmyeE — Chiesa di Totti (@chiesaditotti) March 31, 2019 Napoli would quickly undo that gaff with two goals in the first ten minutes of the second half, and from there the only question was the manner in which they'd finish Roma off: would they let them slowly bleed out or show Roma some mercy and just end their miserable existence? For a second it looked like the former, as the Giallorossi received a small boost once Nicolo Zaniolo came on, who nearly created a goal in the 72nd minute or so when he set up Bryan Cristante at the edge of the 18, but thanks to the woodwork and an errant rebound attempt from Nzonzi, Zaniolo's creativity went for naught. Napoli would add another goal for good measure in the 81st minute, putting a stamp on their complete and total domination today. Conclusions I don't normally embed this many of our own Tweets, but... This is a complete tear down job. Roma shouldn't mention or even worry about Europe until they undo the damage Monchi wrought. — Chiesa di Totti (@chiesaditotti) March 31, 2019 In truth, the culpability probably falls a bit higher than Monchi, but if this managerial switch has proven anything it's that Roma are in dire need of a rebuild.