AS Roma vs Hellas Verona preview - Totti focused on keeping run going

Posted Friday, September 26, 2014 by PA

Roma captain Francesco Totti insists he and his team-mates are remaining grounded despite their stunning start to the season and are only thinking of Saturday's game against Hellas Verona.

The Giallorossi, who travel to England to face Manchester City on Tuesday in the Champions League, won 2-1 at Parma on Wednesday to clinch their fifth straight win in all competitions.

Miralem Pjanic's late winner allowed Roma to remain perfect this season and go level on 12 points with Juventus at the top of the Serie A standings.

"We are aware that we have collected an exceptional victory at Parma," Totti said. "It was crucial for us to win and we deserved to take home three points.

"We are delighted with the result.

"Now we must get to work and focus solely on our game against Hellas. We must continue to play as we are doing."

Roma, coached by Rudi Garcia, have conceded just one goal while they have found the net seven times in four league games.

The Eternal City giants have not lost at home since falling 1-0 to Juventus in May, their only defeat in Rome in the 2013-14 campaign.

Former Roma forward Luca Toni is aware of the challenge his team faces this weekend but has not ruled out Hellas pulling off a surprise in the Italian capital.

"Roma are very strong and have the quality to win titles this season," Toni said. "We will try to beat them knowing we will have to play a flawless game."

Hellas have also enjoyed a positive start to the campaign and go into the contest unbeaten.

Wednesday's 2-2 draw against Genoa lifted the Verona outfit to fifth position, four points behind Roma.

Hellas coach Andrea Mandorlini will be without goalkeeper Francesco Benussi and midfielder Ivan Martic.

Both players got hurt in midweek and have been ruled out for the trip to Rome.

Pierluigi Gollini will replace Benussi in goal.

Juan Manuel Iturbe will not feature against his former club, with the Argentinian winger being one of eight Roma players sidelined through injury.

Iturbe joined Roma this summer after an impressive campaign at Hellas.