AS Roma vs Sampdoria preview - Roma desperate for top-two finish

Posted Sunday, March 15, 2015 by PA

Roma are feeling a sense of urgency ahead of Monday's home game against Sampdoria, with rivals Lazio threatening to overhaul them and move into second place.

While the Giallorossi have not won at home since November 30 to fall 14 points behind Juventus, who were 1-0 winners at Palermo on Saturday, Lazio have been red hot and climbed the table.

They now trail Roma by just four points.

"Seeing our situation right now, our main aim is to defend our second position in the table in order to qualify directly to the Champions League," Roma midfielder Radja Nainggolan said to Sky Italia.

The Eternal City club have drawn eight of their last nine league games, although there were some positive signs for the team in their Europa League encounter with Fiorentina on Thursday.

They held the Viola to a 1-1 draw in the first leg of their last 16 tie.

"We need to give continuity to that performance and try to end the season strongly," Nainggolan said.

Scoring goals has been the problem for Roma.

"We are struggling to get wins at home because our rivals defend deeply and that makes it more complicated," Nainggolan said. "There is the added pressure of knowing that we have to win and perhaps that has affected us.

"But if we play the way we know how, then we should win against every opponent."

Nainggolan will miss Monday's encounter through suspension while defender Kostas Manolas and midfielder Daniele De Rossi are sidelined through injury.

Roma are hoping to recover captain Francesco Totti, who missed the game in Florence with a muscular problem.

Sampdoria travel to the Italian capital looking for their third straight win.

The Genoa outfit followed their 2-1 triumph at Atalanta with a 2-0 victory over Cagliari last time out.

Samp are sixth in Serie A, level on 42 points with Fiorentina, who are fifth.

Samuel Eto'o, who scored his first goal for Samp last week since his January move to the club from Everton, will partner former Roma forward Stefano Okaka in attack.

Samp will be without midfielder Afriyie Acquah, who is suspended.