Aiming to keep the momentum building behind their top-six challenge, Roma visit struggling Sampdoria at Stadio Luigi Ferraris on Sunday.

The Giallorossi return following the international break having brushed aside arch-rivals Lazio in the Derby della Capitale last time out, and they will encounter a Samp side yet to secure Serie A survival.

Match preview

Continuing his smooth transition into one of Calcio's top strikers, Tammy Abraham struck perhaps his most important Roma goal yet a fortnight ago, when turning home the opener inside a minute of the Rome Derby.

After tearing into a three-goal lead before half time, Lazio were seemingly stunned into submission, and Jose Mourinho's men strode on to a 3-0 victory - meanwhile extending their unbeaten run to nine games.

Also winning three of their last four, Roma last went 10 consecutive matches without defeat in a single season some six years ago, so will be keen to pick up where they left off this weekend and continue that successful streak.

Mourinho's oft-maligned defence have now secured four clean sheets from their last six matches, and things seem to be coming together for the capital club heading towards the run-in, as they sit seventh in the Serie A standings - just a point behind Lazio (with a game in hand), and level with sixth-placed Atalanta.

Set to face group stage conquerors Bodo/Glimt in the quarter-finals of the Europa Conference League later this month, the Giallorossi remain in contention for silverware too, so will not want to lose momentum by stumbling on Sunday.

Though they trail their visitors by some 22 points in the table, Sampdoria managed to snatch a draw from the clubs' last league meeting, which finished 1-1 at Stadio Olimpico in December, thanks to an 80th-minute equaliser by Manolo Gabbiadini.

Indeed, Samp have gone unbeaten in 10 of their last 12 Serie A home matches against Roma before they meet at Marassi this weekend; keeping a clean sheet in the most recent two.

History aside, though, Marco Giampaolo's side have continued to stutter in recent weeks; managing just three wins since the winter break to hover precariously above the drop zone.

Sitting 16th - seven points ahead of Genoa (18th) and Venezia (19th) - the Blucerchiati won a crucial encounter with the latter last time out.

Their 2-0 victory at Stadio Pier Luigi Penzo helped boost their survival prospects, and they have now reached a rate of 1.13 points per game under Giampaolo, having posted only 0.91 under previous coach Roberto D'Aversa during a disastrous start to the season.

With only four victories from 15 attempts at home this term, though - while conceding goals at an average of almost two per game - to secure their top-flight status, that record will surely have to improve.

Team News

Two weeks after a resounding success in the Derby, Jose Mourinho could name an unchanged side on Sunday, as Tammy Abraham is expected to be fit after missing England's international fixtures with a back injury.

Currently on 15 league strikes, the former Chelsea striker could equal Gerry Hitchens (16 goals for Inter in 1961-62) as the highest English scorer in a single Serie A campaign, and his 23 goals in all competitions make him the leading English scorer across the top five European Leagues.

While Gianluca Mancini went off injured in Italy's loss to North Macedonia, he should also be included in the starting lineup, but Jordan Veretout misses out due to COVID-19 infection.

Meanwhile, Marco Giampaolo has no new injury concerns ahead of Roma's arrival, with forwards Manolo Gabbiadini and Mikkel Damsgaard still Sampdoria's only absentees. Experienced midfielder Albin Ekdal was previously a doubt, but should be able to at least feature on the bench.

Up front, Francesco Caputo has scored three times in his last three outings, and his nine-goal haul so far this term sees the former Sassuolo striker within touching distance of reaching double figures for the fourth Serie A season in a row.

Sampdoria possible starting lineup:
Falcone; Bereszynski, Colley, Yoshida, Murru; Candreva, Rincon, Thorsby; Sabiri; Quagliarella, Caputo

Roma possible starting lineup:
Patricio; Mancini, Smalling, Ibanez; Karsdorp, Oliveira, Cristante, Zalewski; Pellegrini, Mkhitaryan; Abraham

We say: Sampdoria 1-2 Roma

Though they picked up an important win just before the break, there is little to suggest that Samp are in the sort of shape to take down a motivated Roma side.

As the Giallorossi have now forged an efficient attacking unit while tightening up at the back, they should return to the capital with another three points.

Previews by email