How Roma have surged back into the Champions League qualification race

When Roma parted company with Rudi Garcia at the halfway point of the Serie A season, the Giallorossi's prospects of returning to next season’s Champions League did not look great.

Seven points adrift of Napoli at the top of the table and five points off third - which in itself would still not guarantee Roma a place in next season's Champions League group stages - the margin was beginning to look daunting.

Under new coach Luciano Spalletti the side started with a draw against Hellas Verona and narrow defeat to Juventus, initially making a top-three finish an even more distant prospect.

Yet, 10 games and nine wins later, the European picture looks completely different – as the graph below shows.

Since matchday 21, Roma have claimed 28 points from a possible 30, compared with 20 for Napoli, 15 for Fiorentina and 14 for Inter.

The Giallorossi have also scored more goals (29) and conceded fewer (eight) than any of their nearest league rivals over the period.

As a result Spalletti's side have pushed up to third in the table, and now have sights firmly set on overhauling Napoli over the remaining seven games of the season to clinch a spot in next season’s Champions League group stages.

With just four points between the teams, it promises to be an exciting conclusion to a dramatic qualification race.