AS Roma vs Catania preview - Garcia sees room for improvement

Posted Saturday, December 21, 2013 by PA

Roma host bottom-side Catania on Sunday eager to go into the Christmas break on a high and keep Serie A leaders Juventus in their sights.

Monday's 2-2 draw at AC Milan kept Roma's unbeaten run intact but dropped the Giallorossi, who are second in the table, five points behind the seemingly unstoppable Juventus.

Roma coach Rudi Garcia preferred to focus on the positives despite the result in Milan marking their fifth draw in their last six league games.

"It's true that we could have done better but we played to win and that is what I want from my team," Garcia said. "We had so many scoring opportunities but a point against Milan at San Siro is not a negative thing.

"We have been playing for five months and have not lost a game, so that has to mean that the team is in very good shape.

"The only negative aspect was that we were weaker than usual on defence and that is something that we have to work on."

Not since March had Roma, who have the best defensive record in Serie A with just seven goals given away, conceded more than one goal in a game.

The Eternal City giants have a showdown at Juventus to look forward in their first game of the new year on January 5.

"Now we must remain focused and try to win our next game with Catania," Garcia said. "What matters now is to have a great game at home and after the break we have all the time to think about the match in Turin."

Rivals Catania will be hoping to come up with a strategy that will bring an end Roma's unbeaten run when the two sides meet at the Stadio Olimpico.

For that to happen they will need to show a vast improvement in attack as they have the weakest striking force in the competition with only 10 goals scored so far.

The Sicilian outfit failed to find the back of the net for the seventh game this season in Sunday's goalless draw against Hellas Verona.

The outcome left Catania at the foot of the standings, four points behind safety.

Catania, coached by Luigi De Canio, have mustered just one point in their last four league games.

Roma will be without midfielder Daniele De Rossi who serves a one-match ban.