Currently looking down at their regional rivals in the Serie A standings, promoted Frosinone aim to deepen Roma's misery still further on Sunday evening, when the clubs clash at Stadio Olimpico.

While last season's Serie B champions have adapted well to Italy's top flight - losing just once so far - the Giallorossi are in crisis after a midweek humbling by Genoa saw them equal their worst points haul at this stage of a season since the 1990s.

Match preview

Half-a-dozen matches into their league campaign, Roma find themselves languishing at the wrong end of the table and with just one win to their name, following a 4-1 defeat to Genoa on Thursday.

Already a goal behind within five minutes at Marassi, Bryan Cristante's leveller could only paper over the cracks for Jose Mourinho's men, as their hosts struck just before half time and then twice more after the break; seriously taking the shine off a spell in which Roma had thumped Empoli 7-0 and won in the Europa League before playing out a goalless draw with Torino.

Still stranded on five points, the Giallorossi last started so slowly in 2010, and with either a draw or a defeat this weekend, they would set an unwanted club record of fewest points after seven games this century.

Before returning to European action against Swiss side Servette next week, Roma aim to recover from several Serie A stumbles, and Sunday's opponents have historically proven a perfect source of points: the capital club have won all four of their previous top-tier matches against Frosinone, with an aggregate score of 12-3.

The clubs' most recent Serie A meeting dates back to February 2019, when the Giallorossi ran out 3-2 winners under the watch of current Gialloblu coach Eusebio Di Francesco, who now returns to Stadio Olimpico with a point to prove.

As Roma are unbeaten in their last 24 home games against promoted teams - racking up no less than 22 wins while averaging nearly three goals per game - another failure now would be unthinkable, also leaving plans for a top-four push in tatters.

While Mourinho finds himself under mounting pressure, opposite number Di Francesco has returned to Serie A in some style since his appointment as Frosinone boss during the summer, after promotion-winning coach Fabio Grosso vacated the role.

As Roma manager between August 2017 and March 2019, ex-Giallorossi midfielder Di Francesco averaged a career-high 1.9 points per game, but his unfancied current club have now picked up nine from six league games since starting the season with a Coppa Italia win.

Thanks to a second-half equaliser from Juventus loanee Matias Soule, Frosinone held Fiorentina to a 1-1 draw on Thursday, thereby extending their unbeaten streak to five games - only Scudetto holders Napoli have beaten them so far.

In the process, the Canarini have drawn both of their last two away fixtures, and they could now avoid defeat for three straight road matches for the first time ever at Italy's elite level.

Given their early promise and Roma's woes, that may be on the cards at Stadio Olimpico: demonstrating reserves of both character and resilience, no team has gained more points from losing positions in Serie A this season.

Team News

While captain Lorenzo Pellegrini returned to the Roma lineup in midweek, after missing several matches with a muscular problem, Spanish centre-back Diego Llorente sustained an injury that could keep him out of Sunday's game.

Goalscorer Bryan Cristante dropped into the back three following Llorente's withdrawal, and Jose Mourinho may have to ask his ever-present midfielder to do so again: defensive duo Chris Smalling (thigh) and Marash Kumbulla (ACL) remain absent.

Given a busy schedule and his forwards' past fitness problems, Mourinho would ideally rotate his attacking resources, but Paulo Dybala and Romelu Lukaku could be paired up front due to the pressing need for a positive result.

Yet to impress since moving to Rome last summer, another forward, Andrea Belotti, joins Gonzalo Higuain as the only two players to have bagged a Serie A brace against Frosinone on at least two occasions; however, both doubles came for Torino back in January 2016 and March 2019.

Frosinone are definitely without Abdou Harroui following foot surgery, while Francesco Gelli (flexor) is also unavailable; meanwhile, loan signings Kaio Jorge and Pol Lirola face a race against time to be involved.

One player that should play a major part for the visitors is Argentinian forward Matias Soule, who is the youngest player to have both scored and provided an assist in Serie A this season; he supports Napoli-owned Walid Cheddira up front.

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

Frosinone possible starting lineup:
Turati; Oyono, Okoli, Monterisi, Marchizza; Mazzitelli, Barrenechea, Garritano; Soule, Cheddira, Baez

We say: Roma 1-1 Frosinone

Disjointed displays and dismal results have led to piles of pressure on Roma to collect three points on Sunday. Their modest visitors from nearby Frosinone will not roll over, though, and with some astute coaching and a sprinkling of on-loan talent they can frustrate their illustrious hosts at the Olimpico.


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