Stat Attack: 10 facts to know ahead of SPAL

The game - Claudio Ranieri's second back in charge - gets underway at 18:00 local time.

Six of the best?

Roma and SPAL have faced each other six times - with SPAL winning the last meeting, earlier this season. Roma had not lost any of the five prior to that - winning four of them.

On the road

Roma have won each of their last two away trips to face SPAL - without conceding a goal.

SPAL struggling

Over the last 18 games in Serie A no side has picked up fewer points than SPAL - just 11. That is the same as Chievo Verona in that span.

No luck at the Paolo Mazza

Only Frosinone (17 games without a win) have been waiting longer for a home victory in Serie A than SPAL< who have now gone 11 games without three points in front of their fans.

Ranieri's Roma record in Serie A

Among the seven teams that Claudio Ranieri has managed in Serie A during his career, it is with Roma that he has the highest win percentage: 58% (36 wins from 62 games).

Paloschi the danger-man

Alberto Paloschi has scored three goals against Roma in Serie A - including his first-ever top flight brace, which came for Genoa back in February 2011.

The first game at the Olimpico...

SPAL were actually the opponents the first time Roma ever played at the Stadio Olimpico - back on 31 May 1953. The game finished 0-0 on that occasion - perhaps less memorable than what else happened that day, as club president Sacerdoti announced that Alcides Ghiggia had agreed to join the club. The Uruguayan World Cup winner would go on to become a Hall of Famer at the club.

SPAL's part in the story of 1982-83…

Roma's second Scudetto season, 1982-83, actually began against SPAL - albeit in the Coppa Italia. On that occasion the Giallorossi ran out 1-0 winners, kicking off a season that would ultimately live forever in club history...

Totti at the Mazza

SPAL's Stadio Paolo Mazza was actually where Francesco Totti scored his first goal for the Italy Under-21 side. That came on his debut for the side, back in December 1995. Italy won 2-0 on that occasion, with Roberto Baronio getting the other goal.

Giuliano Taccola

Giuliano Taccola, who will be remembered by the team during Saturday's game on the 50th anniversary death, actually scored the decisive goal in one of Roma's last victories against the Ferrara side. That came in October 1967, when the striker got the only goal in a 1-0 win.