SPEZIA

League position: 13th (in Serie A)
Head coach: Vincenzo Italiano
Serie A top-scorer: M’bala Nzola (9)
How they got here: Cittadella 0-2 Spezia, Bologna 2-4 Spezia (AET)

RECENT FORM

Spezia: L L W W D
Roma: W W W D L

Since slipping into the Serie A relegation zone on Matchday 15, Spezia have gone three games unbeaten thanks to back-to-back 2-1 victories over Napoli and Parma, as well as a 1-1 draw with Torino last time out.

It’s fine form considering Italiano’s side went eight league games without a win before beating Napoli (D3, L5) and will have put Paulo Fonseca’s side on notice ahead of two meetings in the space of five days between these two teams.

As for the Giallorossi, they are seeking immediate redemption following Derby della Capitale defeat on Friday night as Fonseca’s men look to end their run of two games without a win.

Their eight goals in the first quarter of an hour of Serie A games this season is a league-high and could serve their chances well, especially considering Spezia have conceded the most (seven) during the opening first 15 minutes of matches.

LAST MEETING

Not one fans easily forget...

DANGER MAN
Emmanuel Gyasi

Spezia have already used 34 different players in 18 top-flight outings this term - more than any team in Serie A - as injury has ravaged the Aquilotti.

Their latest major issue has been an ankle injury that denies them the services of top-scorer M’Bala Nzola, who has contributed 39 per cent of their 23 total league goals (nine).

The 24-year-old has also found the back of the net in each of their three wins and Spezia have collected 11 of their 18 points from games when Nzola has found himself on the scoresheet.

In Nzola’s absence, Gyasi - a fast, tricky winger whose goal in the playoff final first-leg last year took Spezia up - will have to pick up some of the slack in attack by adding to his solitary goal and four assists so far this campaign.

MATCH STATS

Roma and Spezia have met just once before in all competitions - back in the 2015-16 season when the Bianconeri shocked the Giallorossi by claiming victory on penalties in this same stage of the cup.

That game finished 0-0 after 120 minutes of extra-time and is the last occasion Roma have failed to score at home in the Coppa Italia.

They’ve since scored 14 times in their last five run outs at the Olimpico in the cup and average 2.8 goals a game, while Roma have gone beyond the last-16 17 out of the last 19 seasons.

Spezia last reached the quarter-finals thanks to that win over Tuesday’s hosts in December 2015, while Roma have lifted the trophy nine-times in their history; a number only Juventus (13) can better.

PLAYER STATS

• Edin Dzeko and Jordan Veretout are Roma's two top scorers at home this season (both on five), while Henrikh Mkhitaryan has been directly involved in the most Roma goals (nine: four goals and five assists) on home soil.
  
• Two of Dzeko's five goals at the Olimpico this season have come in his last three appearances.
  
• Dzeko is Roma’s only survivor from Spezia’s penalty win in 2015, while Claudio Terzi and Gennaro Acampora - a second-half substitute - are the only players from that matchday squad still at the Stadio Alberto Picco. Dzeko missed a penalty in the shootout five years ago, while Terzi scored Spezia’s first spot-kick and Acampora hit their winner from 12-yards.
  
• On-loan Spezia winger Daniele Verde came through the Roma academy and made his Serie A debut with the club in January 2015.

WHAT THEY SAID

“The situation on Tuesday will be different because two teams in great health and doing well will face each other. I believe that Fonseca and Italiano will give some regulars a rest and it’s clear Roma will start as favourites because they have a very high quality squad.”

- Former Spezia No. 10 Andrea Catellani, who played in the 2015 meeting