Spezia vs AS Roma prediction: ITALY: Serie A betting tips on match 2023-01-21 17:00.
For the first time in their three-year stay in Serie A (SA), Spezia have picked up points from five consecutive matches (W2, D3) after conquering Torino away last weekend. Luca Gottiâs men moved nine points away from the relegation zone courtesy of that win and have five more points than this same stage of the previous season as they look to establish themselves as a regular member of SA.
Avoiding relegation has always been Speziaâs main goal, so a 5-2 defeat away to Atalanta in the Coppa Italia on Thursday shouldnât affect their current positive mood. After recording three consecutive stalemates at home in the league, theyâll be desperate to record their first home success of 2023. Yet to do that theyâll have to create a little piece of history as theyâve never beaten Roma in the top flight (D1, L3), while their failure to beat any of the current top-seven sides this season across all venues (D1, L5) hardly inspires.
Roma proved once again to be reliant on striker Paulo Dybala, with his brace in a 2-0 win against Fiorentina in the last round meaning the Argentinian striker has now netted their last three goals without reply. Manager Jose Mourinho gave a frank interview afterwards, admitting Roma âlack qualityâ in their squad and have to adjust around those weaknesses as they âcanât just buy Mudryk for âŹ100m.â
As they look to ascend a top-half logjam and work their way back into the European placings, the visitorsâ nearly perfect league record against teams that started this round in the bottom half of the standings (W8, D1) suggest Roma will extend their unbeaten record since the World Cup break, particularly as they have lost only once when travelling this SA season (W5, D3, L1).
Players to watch: After netting the winner at Torino, M'Bala Nzola ended the round as SAâs joint-second top scorer with nine. However, he is yet to score against Roma but did provide two assists in a H2H in May 2021. Tammy Abraham contributed to Romaâs clean sheet H2H victories last season with a goal and an assist, with all of his four league strikes this campaign arriving beyond the hour mark.
Hot stat: Spezia are one of only four SA teams yet to trail at the half-time break at home this season (HT: W4, D5).