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The Giallorossi need to win at the Stadio Olimpico, both to fend off their opponents' title celebrations and to enhance their own ambitions of finishing second. But they will have to try and do so without Dzeko, the top goalscorer in Serie A with 27 goals already this season.
“It's a shame Edin isn't available because he's become our focal point up front," Spalletti said. "The team know what sort of balls to play to him to make the most of his movement and runs. He's established himself as Roma's striker.
"We'll lose something without him but we have other options we can turn to in order to win the game. We must have no excuses.
"We need to go into the game completely clear-headed and channel all our mental and physical strength into winning the game as it would give us the chance to finish second. We need to be focused on our objective and not let anything obscure our view.”
Since the last meeting between the two sides - a 1-0 win for Juventus in Turin back in December - the two sides have both gone on to claim 43 points in the league, although Spalletti seemed to acknowledge that Juventus had always enjoyed a measure of control.
“[To match their points] means both teams have played very well and gone full out, although we should remember that they were ahead of us at that point," he said. "If there'd been another team right on their heels, I think they'd have got even more points.
"There were times when the cushion they had offered them the opportunity of taking things a little easier. Sometimes it happens subconsciously that your motivation levels drop off a little. I expect it happened even to them, although they're excellent at playing with the right character in every match.
"They repelled any attempt made by other sides to close in on them. They've picked up lots of points and done very well.”
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