CROTONE

League position: 20th
Head coach: Serse Cosmi
Serie A top-scorer: Simy (19)

RECENT FORM

Roma: D L L L W
Crotone: L L L W L

Roma’s recent form hasn’t made for the best reading, with only one win from their last eight outings in Serie A (W1, D2, L5) bringing just five points from a possible 24.

They have, however, gone two unbeaten in the league at the Olimpico (D1, W1) and take on Crotone following a positive victory over Manchester United on Thursday, as Roma bowed out of Europe with their heads firmly held high.

And things could be far worse, as Crotone - who have been off bottom just three times this season, including Matchdays 1 and 2 - will surely testify, having had their relegation confirmed courtesy of a 26th defeat of the campaign at home to Inter Milan last weekend.

The Rossoblu have collected just five points away from home this term, with their sole away victory coming via their thrilling 4-3 glory over Parma on Matchday 33.

LAST MEETING

DANGER MAN
Simy

The Nigeria international’s output has been nothing short of exceptional in a side that has otherwise struggled from nearly start to finish in the top flight.

Simy has 19 league goals to his name, with only Romelu Lukaku (21) and Cristiano Ronaldo (27) having scored more going into Matchday 34.

The 28-year-old’s goals have accounted for 45 percent of Crotone’s 42 in total and he has scored 12 of them in his last 10 appearances.

He also hit braces in three of his team’s five Serie A wins in 2020-21, meaning that if he finds the back of the net, Crotone’s chances of victory immediately improve.

MATCH STATS

Roma have won each of their five Serie A meetings with Crotone, conceding just one goal.

From their two previous fixtures at the Olimpico, Crotone have failed to find the back of the net, while Roma have scored five times.

No side has conceded more goals in both the first (41) half and second half (44) than Crotone, but they also are the side to have conceded the fewest (6) in the opening 15 minutes of matches.

Meanwhile, the Giallorossi have scored 10 goals in the opening quarter of an hour, a number only bettered by one other side across the entire division.

PLAYER STATS

• Borja Mayoral hit a Serie A double for the first time in Roma’s 3-1 victory in the reverse.
  
• Henrikh Mkhitaryan scored one and set up another in that game and his eight league assists for the campaign are only bettered by three players (all on nine).
  
• Edin Dzeko is the fixture’s top-scorer with three goals, two of which came in the first league meeting between the two in 2016.
  
• Simy is one goal away from 20 in the Serie A this campaign and only one other player has managed 20 or more in a season for a relegated team: Igor Protti in 1995-96 for Bari (24 goals).

WHAT THEY SAID

“I have always said that I want to wait until the end of the season. What I don’t want is to basically be brought in to euthanise a team, which is what the job was here when I arrived.”

- Crotone coach Cosmi, after relegation was confirmed