Following the sweet relief of two wins in the space of a week, Roma aim to continue their upturn in fortunes on Sunday, when they visit Serie A's bottom side Cagliari.

Hoping to go into the international break on a high, Jose Mourinho's men have scored six goals without reply to start October in style; their hosts, however, are still waiting for a first win since promotion.

Match preview

After a 4-1 humbling by Genoa saw Roma equal their worst start to a season since 2010, the capital club have put a difficult month behind them and posted back-to-back wins in domestic and continental competition.

The Giallorossi turned to their new striker and their captain in times of strife, as both Romelu Lukaku and Lorenzo Pellegrini were on target in victories over Frosinone and Servette; brightening the picture a little in the Eternal City.

Now above struggling rivals Lazio in the Serie A standings, and sitting pretty with maximum points in Europa League Group G, Roma face another modest opponent this weekend, so will seek to capitalise on a friendly fixture list.

Jose Mourinho has only presided over one other league victory this season, against an Empoli side then rock-bottom of the table, and he now leads his team down to Sardinia, where the Giallorossi have generally fared well of late.

Roma have won six of their last nine away matches against Cagliari - losing just one - which is all the more impressive given they failed to take three points home on each of their 11 previous visits.

However, currently on a seven-game winless streak away from home in Serie A - the club's worst such run for 23 years - Mourinho's men have a point to prove to their doubters, who claim they cannot cut it outside of Rome.

All told, Cagliari have won only one of their last 16 league games against Roma, losing no fewer than 11, so the odds are stacked against them this weekend, based both on form and precedent.

Veteran coach Claudio Ranieri welcomes one of his many former clubs to Sardinia with his side still seeking a first victory since gaining promotion through the Serie B playoffs, and they have lost each of their last three games.

Following defeats to Atalanta BC, Milan and Fiorentina - the latter a 3-0 reverse at Stadio Franchi last week - Cagliari have earned as little as two points from their first seven top-flight matches for the first time ever.

Over the past four seasons, only two clubs have picked up fewer after their eighth fixture - Crotone in 2020 and Sampdoria last year - and both were ultimately relegated.

The Isolani have certainly not been cut adrift, though, as only two points separated them from 17th place heading into the weekend; and despite his team netting just twice this term, Ranieri is ever the optimist.

Team News

After scoring the final goal in Thursday's 4-0 win over Servette, Roma captain Lorenzo Pellegrini is set to miss the trip to Cagliari with a hip injury that saw him withdrawn late on at Stadio Olimpico.

The Italy midfielder could join defensive duo Chris Smalling and Diego Llorente on the sidelines, while Renato Sanches and long-term absentees Tammy Abraham and Marash Kumbulla are definitely unavailable.

Having been rested in midweek, Paulo Dybala should return to the Giallorossi's lineup, with Leonardo Spinazzola and goalkeeper Rui Patricio also primed for promotion to the starting XI.

Up front, Romelu Lukaku leads the line, having scored three goals in his first five Serie A appearances for Roma: since the 1990s, only Gabriel Batistuta (eight), Dani Osvaldo (four) and Stephan El Shaarawy (five) have started better.

Though Andrea Belotti bagged a brace in the Europa League and has been directly involved in 12 league goals against Cagliari to date, he may be demoted to the bench.

Meanwhile, Cagliari's attacking woes may be deepened, as Zito Luvumbo - who opened the scoring in the Rossoblu's recent 3-1 loss to Milan - is a doubt due to a muscular problem; Gianluca Lapadula is not expected to return until next month.

Most likely starting instead, Andrea Petagna has three goals from his last four league starts against Roma, albeit each from the penalty spot; the ex-Napoli striker has yet to find the net this season, though, and has mustered just five shots.

Although Gaetano Oristanio is favourite to start, Petagna could be partnered by Uzbek forward Eldor Shomurodov - currently on loan from Roma - who would love nothing better than scoring against his parent club.

Cagliari possible starting lineup:
Scuffet; Wieteska, Dossena, Hatzidiakos; Zappa, Nandez, Makoumbou, Deiola, Augello; Oristanio, Petagna

Roma possible starting lineup:
Patricio; Mancini, Cristante, Ndicka; Kristensen, Aouar, Paredes, Bove, Spinazzola; Dybala, Lukaku

We say: Cagliari 0-2 Roma

Cagliari's wait for a win will go on, as even a Roma side that struggles to produce results on the road should have too much firepower for the Isolani to contain. Further relieving the pressure on Jose Mourinho, the visitors may be injury-hit but are rich in attacking talent and can rack up three straight victories in all competitions.


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