Roma vs Juventus | Serie A | Pre Match
Roma vs Juventus
Roma and Juventus, locked in a tight battle for Serie A’s top spots, will face off at the Stadio Olimpico on Sunday night at 20:45 CEST, pitting fifth against sixth in a clash that could prove pivotal in their quests for European qualification, with both sides bringing contrasting momentum and rich historical baggage into this eagerly anticipated encounter. The head-to-head record between these two Italian giants is a storied one, spanning 181 Serie A meetings, where Juventus hold a clear edge with 86 victories to Roma’s 42, alongside 53 draws—a tally that reflects the Bianconeri’s historical dominance but also hints at the competitiveness of this fixture. Recent encounters have been tighter, with the last two league games ending in stalemates, including a 0-0 draw in September’s reverse fixture, raising the possibility of both seasonal meetings finishing level for the first time since 2000/01—a run of consecutive draws not seen since the four between December 1983 and March 1985. Juventus have been largely untroubled by Roma in recent years, remaining unbeaten in eight of their last nine league clashes (4 wins, 4 draws), with Roma’s sole victory in that span coming on March 5, 2023, a 1-0 win at the Olimpico powered by their defensive resolve. That result snapped a streak where Juventus had won on their last three visits to the capital, but Roma’s last goal conceded from a direct free-kick in Serie A—Dusan Vlahović’s strike on August 27, 2022—serves as a reminder of the Bianconeri’s set-piece threat. The most frequent scoreline in this fixture, a 1-1 draw, has occurred 27 times, most recently last season, suggesting a tight, cagey affair could be on the cards, though both teams’ current form hints at a potential shift in dynamics.
Roma enter this showdown on a remarkable run, unbeaten in their last 14 Serie A matches (11 wins, 3 draws), a streak that stretches back to early in the season and marks their longest undefeated sequence in a single campaign since Luciano Spalletti oversaw 17 between January and May 2016. This resurgence under Daniele De Rossi has transformed the Giallorossi into a formidable force, their six 1-0 victories this term—the most in the league—underscoring a knack for grinding out results, a trait that has seen them amass more such wins in the last seven seasons only in 2022/23 (seven). Artem Dovbyk has been the spearhead, his 11 goals making him only the second Roma player since 2000 to hit double digits in his debut Serie A season, following Tammy Abraham’s 17 in 2021/22. Matías Soulé, a former Juventus youngster, adds flair with 15 goals across the last three seasons, the youngest to reach that mark in that span, while Paulo Dybala—another ex-Bianconeri star—brings a wealth of experience, his 115 goals in 293 appearances for Juventus placing him alongside Roberto Baggio in the club’s top-10 scorers list. Roma’s defensive solidity is equally impressive, with only Inter and Napoli (12 each) conceding fewer first-half goals than their 14, a stat matched by Juventus and Bologna. However, the absence of Alexis Saelemaekers due to suspension could dent their rhythm—Roma win 58.8% of games with the Belgian, dropping to 38.5% without him—while Leandro Paredes, who scored once in 25 games for Juventus in 2022/23, will aim to haunt his former club. With 47 goals scored (fourth) and 35 conceded (sixth), Roma’s +12 goal differential (fifth) reflects a balanced outfit poised to challenge Juventus’ resolve.
Juventus, managed by Thiago Motta, have rediscovered their winning touch, claiming victory in six of their last eight league games (2 losses) after a sluggish stretch of 13 draws in 18 matches earlier in the campaign—a stark contrast to their current run of 10 straight games without a draw (7 wins, 3 losses). This resurgence has kept them in the top-six hunt, their 88.6% passing accuracy (highest in Serie A) and 83.4% in the opposition half showcasing a possession-based style that suffocates opponents. Kenan Yıldız, at 19, is emerging as a star, his seven goals tying Moise Kean’s record for Juventus players under 20 in the three-points era, with a chance to score in consecutive games for the first time against Roma. Dusan Vlahović, with 86 goals and 14 assists, has hit the 100-goal involvement mark in Serie A, the first player born in 1998 or later to do so, while Teun Koopmeiners has tormented Roma with three goal involvements (two goals, one assist) in his last four meetings. Nicolas González nears 150 appearances across Europe’s top leagues (45 with Stuttgart, 86 with Fiorentina, 18 with Juventus), and Pierre Kalulu’s goal against Roma in January 2023 with AC Milan adds another layer of intrigue. Juventus’ 40 goals (seventh) and 14 first-half goals conceded (tied with Roma) reflect a team that balances attack and defense, though their 23 goals allowed (first) lag behind Roma’s 35. Their +40 shot differential (seventh) trails Roma’s +56 (fourth), but their recent form suggests they’re peaking at the right time.
The tactical battle pits Roma’s compact, counterattacking 4-3-3 against Juventus’ fluid 4-2-3-1, with De Rossi likely deploying Dovbyk up top, flanked by Soulé and Dybala, and a midfield of Bryan Cristante, Paredes, and Lorenzo Pellegrini to disrupt Juventus’ rhythm. Motta will counter with Vlahović leading the line, supported by Yıldız, Koopmeiners, and González, with Manuel Locatelli and Nicolo Fagioli anchoring midfield to maintain possession. Roma’s 322 shots taken (seventh) edge Juventus’ 314 (eighth), but their 266 faced (fourth) outstrip Juventus’ 274 (sixth), hinting at defensive exposure Juventus could exploit. Set-pieces—where Vlahović excels—may test Roma’s Mile Svilar, while Dovbyk’s physicality could trouble Federico Gatti and Gleison Bremer. Roma’s home edge (11 wins in 14) clashes with Juventus’ road resurgence (4 wins in 9 against Roma), suggesting a tight contest. A 1-1 draw feels likely—Vlahović and Dovbyk trading blows—though a 2-1 Roma win isn’t out of reach if Dybala turns back the clock. For Roma, it’s about sustaining their streak; for Juventus, it’s a chance to leapfrog a rival—a Serie A classic brimming with stakes on Sunday night.
