Serie A is back this week so why not check out our Roma season preview below as we prepare for yet another exciting season of Calcio. We are taking a look at the top six clubs in Italy ahead of the 2023/24 Serie A campaign. We have already previewed Napoli, Inter, Juventus and Milan.
Take a look at our Roma season preview which includes: a 2022/23 season recap, pre-season form, transfers, opening fixtures, predicted lineup, one to watch and their season target. Here is our Roma season preview.
Roma Season Preview
2022/23 Season Recap
Roma looked good to finish in the top-four from February to April in the Serie A season last term but ultimately failed to do so as they finished in sixth. Their final eight league matches yielded just one victory as head coach Jose Mourinho appeared to place all his eggs in the Europa League basket. It is also important to note, though, that the Giallorossi were hit with a plethora of injury issues towards the end of the campaign.
The capital club were able to sail past Red Bull Salzburg, Real Sociedad, Feyenoord and Bayer Leverkusen en route to reaching the Europa League final. However, they were thwarted at the final hurdle as Sevilla ran out winners on penalties in what was a fiery finale in Budapest. Roma were only able to reach the quarter-finals of the Coppa Italia as they suffered a disappointing loss at home to Cremonese.
Pre-season Form:
Braga (N) D 1-1 (Goals: Stephan El Shaarawy)
Estrela (N) W 4-0 (Goals: Paulo Dybala x2, Diego Llorente, Edoardo Bove)
Farense (A) W 4-2 (Goals: Andrea Belotti, Lorenzo Pellegrini)
Toulouse (A) L 2-1 (Goals: Paulo Dybala)
Partizani (N) W 2-1 (Goals: Stephan El Shaarawy, Andrea Belotti)
Transfers In:
Evan Ndicka (centre-back) Eintracht Frankfurt; Houssem Aouar (centre-midfield) Lyon; Rasmus Kristensen (right-back) Leeds United (loan); Leandro Paredes (central-midfield); Paris Saint-Germain; Renato Sanches (central-midfield) Paris Saint-Germain (loan)
Transfers Out:
Roger Ibanez (centre-back) Al-Ahli; Justin Kluivert (left-winger) Bournemouth; Cristian Volpato (attacking midfield) Sassuolo; Benjamin Tahirovic (central-midfield) Ajax; Carles Perez (right-winger) Celta Vigo; Bryan Reynolds (right-back) Westerlo; Nemanja Matic (defensive midfielder) Rennes; Filippo Missori (right-back) Sassuolo; Gonzalo Villar (central midfield) Granada; Eldor Shomurodov (centre-forward) Cagliari (loan); Ruben Providence (left-winger) Hartberg; Matias Vina (left-back) Sassuolo (loan); Ebrima Darboe (defensive midfield) LASK (loan); Mady Camara (central-midfield) Olympiacos (end of loan); Georginio Wijnaldum (central-midfield) Paris Saint-Germain (end of loan)
Summary of Transfers
The Giallorossi have had a revamp over the summer and have completed some shrewd transfer business. Free transfers in the form of Evan Ndicka and Houssem Aouar appear to be excellent pick-ups. Ndicka is a straight replacement for Roger Ibanez who has joined Al-Ahli – Lazio fans will be absolutely gutted by the news of Ibanez leaving Roma.
Midfield has undergone a complete transition. The likes of Cristian Volpato, Benjamin Tahirovic, Nemanja Matic, Mady Camara and Georginio Wijnaldum have all left the club. However, Aouar, Leandro Paredes and Renato Sanches have all arrived. Jose Mourinho appears to have finally got his new midfield acquisitions without spending much money. Roma have also recouped good fees in their midfield sales so they are balancing the books well.
Opening Five 2023/24 Serie A Fixtures
Salernitana (H)
Verona (A)
Milan (H)
Empoli (H)
Torino (A)
The Giallorossi have a favorable start to the new Serie A season with three home games to begin. However, they did drop points in both home games against Salernitana and Milan last term, winning only against Empoli. Nevertheless, their two away fixtures should be seen as winnable games for Roma and they took him six points from both of them last season. Just two of their opening five opponents finished in the top half in 2022/23.
Predicted Line-up:
(3-4-2-1): Rui Patricio; Gianluca Mancini, Chris Smalling, Evan Ndicka; Rasmus Kristensen, Bryan Cristante, Renato Sanches, Leonardo Spinazzola; Lorenzo Pellegrini, Houssem Aouar; Paulo Dybala
A host of changes to the squad makes it difficult to predict the Roma lineup, especially with them only just completing the signings of Paredes and Sanches.
However, Gianluca Mancini and Chris Smalling are expected to continue as usual in the back three. Ndicka and Diego Llorente will battle it out for the final spot, whilst Cristante can also fill in at the back if needed. Marash Kumbulla is still in the squad but is recovering from an ACL injury.
New arrival Rasmus Kristensen appears to be the favorite over on the right for the moment but Rick Karsdorp and Zeki Celik are also options. Leonardo Spinazzola should be the first choice out on the left, with Nicola Zalewski and Stephan El Shaarawy also able to feature there.
Mourinho deployed both three-man and two-man central midfield options last term. Cristante will be used as the ball-winner, whilst Sanches, Paredes or Aouar could be utilised as a ball-player in the middle of the park. Edoardo Bove is another option as a workhorse in the midfield. Sanches and Aouar can also be deployed further forward.
Lorenzo Pellegrini will be one of the first names on the team sheet and will likely take up an attacking midfield role. Equally, he can also be used deeper if needed. Paulo Dybala can also drop back but may feature up top, especially due to the injury to Tammy Abraham. Andrea Belotti and Ola Solbakken are depth choices in the attacking roles.
One to Watch
Houssem Aouar
The Algeria international could help add some much needed creativity to the Roma lineup. They struggled frequently last term in that regard, especially due to Dybala’s injury issues and Pellegrini not having the best of campaigns. A number of top clubs had been linked with a move for the former Lyon man but Roma have managed to get him on a free. It’s a move with not much risk and could greatly improve them in 2023/24.
Season Target
Back-to-back sixth-placed finishes in Serie A for Mourinho in his two season’s at Roma hasn’t been the best of outcomes. A European trophy in his first year in the Conference League was solid and they almost returned to the Champions League but couldn’t defeat Sevilla in the Europa League final last season. If Mourinho is unable to get back into the top-four or not return to the Champions League via a Europa League triumph, it will most likely be the end of his time at the Olimpico.