/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/65876274/1180870760.jpg.0.jpg)
As Roma heads into its pivotal final group stage match against bottom feeders Wolfsberger, expect to see some changes from Friday’s match against Inter. Long term absentees Davide Zappacosta, and Bryan Cristante, as well as Davide Santon, are all confirmed to miss out on this one. Joining them on the injured list is Chris Smalling, after Roma released a medical bulletin on the Englishman and Lorenzo Pellegrini on Tuesday.
#Roma, #Smalling e #Pellegrini ko. L'inglese torna nel 2020 https://t.co/osGLqCBl8B
— Corriere dello Sport (@CorSport) December 10, 2019
Meanwhile, Justin Kluivert and Javier Pastore continue to recover from minor ailments and will remain out for this one. However, in a bit of good news, despite the bulletin, Pellegrini has made the match day roster.
| SQUAD LIST |
— AS Roma English (@ASRomaEN) December 11, 2019
Here are the players available for Thursday's Europa League group stage finale against Wolfsberg! ⚡️
#ASRoma #RomaWAC pic.twitter.com/ttcx57em9o
Pau Lopez was back in full training on Monday after missing the Inter match, but is not going to start again. That means Mirante will be between the sticks, as confirmed by Fonseca.
Fonseca: “I think I will make changes – perhaps four or five players. It’s a crucial game and a tough one, but I have faith in my players. Dzeko will play, Cengiz will play - but Pau Lopez and Kolarov will not.”
With Smalling out it'll likely be Gianluca Mancini and Federico Fazio in the center of defense. Meanwhile, with Aleksandar Kolarov getting a rare day off, it should be Alessandro Florenzi and Leonardo Spinazzola at fullback.
In front of the defense will again be Jordan Veretout and Amadou Diawara. Edin Dzeko will also return to the starting XI, having overcome the flu from last week. With Pellegrini available, and Ünder confirmed to start we could see an attacking trio of Pellegrini, Ünder, and Zaniolo behind Dzeko. If Fonseca decides not to start the Italian from the opening whistle then expect to see Perotti or Mkhitaryan in the XI.
Roma (4-2-3-1): Mirante; Spinazzola, Mancini, Fazio, Florenzi; Veretout, Diawara; Ünder, Pellegrini, Zaniolo; Dzeko