ROMA v AC MILAN: OPPONENT REVIEW

The race for a Champions League place stops off at the Olimpico. A key date for AC Milan's season, who visit Roma at 18:00 CEST on Saturday 29 April for what looks for all intents and purposes like a play-off for a place in the top four. An important occasion for Coach Pioli's eleven, who look to carry on with their recent positive results.

On the other side, however, there is a Roma side that - especially at home - is going through a very positive phase. The Giallorossi have been unbeaten for five home games and among the teams in the league only Udinese can boast a longer unbeaten streak (six). The Giallorossi's figures in terms of goals conceded at home are no less remarkable: in 2023 they have kept a clean sheet in seven out of their eight home league matches - in the same period, no team in Europe's top five leagues hav achieved so many clean sheets at home.

GRITTY AT THE BACK AND LACKLUSTRE IN ATTACK, ROMA ALSO RELIES ON CHARACTER
Despite the fact that the Giallorossi's defence, as attested by the eight domestic clean sheets collected in 2023, has been well established since the beginning of this calendar year, Mourinho's team seems to struggle when conceding goals. In fact, Roma have not won any of their last 10 games in the top flight in which they have conceded at least one goal (4D, 6L), conceding four in their last four. The Rossoneri are warned: going on target could result in a crucial point.

Watch out, however, on the opposite side, for the Giallorossi's ability to remain alert throughout the 90 minutes, regardless of the scoreline. To understand this attitude of character, one only has to look at the six goals scored in added time (a record in the current championship) on the one hand, and the 0 goals conceded in extra time on the other (a record shared with Napoli, Atalanta and Bologna). A mix of bad luck and lack of lucidity in front of goal, on the other hand, has led to the Giallorossi hitting the post 30 times this season in all competitions, at least six more than any other team in the top five European leagues.

DYBALA THE MOST CREATIVE, PELLEGRINI A SPECIAL PLAYER
Paulo Dybala, a doubt for Saturday's match, has thus far been Roma's best player of the season. The drastic difference in win percentage between matches where Dybala starts from the first minute (65% -13/20) and those where he is on the bench (36.4% - 4/11) demonstrates his vital importance to the team. With la Joya starting, Roma complete an average of 11 more passes in the final third (55.2 compared to 44), thus increasing their offensive threat. As if that wasn't enough, Dybala has had a lot of success against AC Milan in the past: with 7 goals and 5 assists, the Argentine has participated in 12 goals against the Rossoneri in Serie A.

In clear recovery from a difficult period, however, is Lorenzo Pellegrini: the Giallorossi captain has scored in his last three matches played in a Roma shirt in all competitions, his best goalscoring streak since he has worn this shirt. Pellegrini also ranks first among Serie A midfielders in terms of number of shots (89), shots on goal (31) and chances created (89) in all competitions.

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