De Rossi Says No Revenge Ahead Of Genoa's Return To Roma In Serie A

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Roma and Genoa meet in Serie A on Monday with both clubs under pressure, while Daniele De Rossi returns to Stadio Olimpico for the first time as an opposing coach and insists emotions will not distract from Genoa’s survival fight.

Roma have slipped away from the Champions League places in recent weeks and start the round outside the top four, knowing victory in the final match of the weekend is vital after just one win from their last four league games, although that success was a narrow 1-0 home result against Como.

De Rossi previously coached Roma after replacing Jose Mourinho in January 2024, following a playing career of 616 competitive appearances for the club, and guided the team to the 2023-24 Europa League final across 30 matches before being dismissed four games into the new campaign after failing to secure a victory.

The former Roma captain now leads Genoa and has improved their situation by moving the team out of the relegation zone into 17th place, although Genoa enter this match after back-to-back defeats against Inter and Atalanta that have slowed their momentum in the league.

De Rossi stressed there is no bitterness as Genoa visit the capital, saying: "We leave football to one side in normal life. There's been a lot of talk about the game, maybe a little too much," De Rossi said. "It's a game against a team, and I've already explained how much they mean to me. Denying it or making it some sort of taboo would be ridiculous. I want to make a good impression, but there is no desire for revenge. My staff and I wake up every day with the sole objective of saving Genoa. That's our only mission."

Roma’s recent inconsistency includes three defeats across their last four Serie A fixtures, the same number of losses suffered in the previous 14 league games which brought 11 wins, yet they remain one of only two teams, alongside Inter, who have not drawn a league match this season.

Genoa’s record against Roma is historically difficult, with just one victory in their last 20 Serie A meetings, a 4-1 success on 28 September 2023, although the Rossoblu have avoided defeat in three of the most recent five league clashes between the teams.

Roma have been especially dominant at home in this fixture during the three-points-for-a-win era since 1994-95, hosting Genoa 18 times in Serie A without losing, winning 16 and drawing two, and Genoa’s most recent away league victory at Roma dates back to a 1-0 success in January 1990.

Seasonal patterns add another layer, as Genoa have remained unbeaten in their final Serie A match of a calendar year played in December across the last four seasons with two wins and two draws, while Roma have failed to win their last three such December finales after previously collecting 10 victories from 12, alongside two draws.

Roma vs Genoa Serie A players to watch and attacking data

Matias Soule, aged 21, has been central to Roma’s attacking play, as one of just three Serie A forwards this season to create at least 20 chances from open play for team-mates, alongside Charles De Ketelaere with 28 and Kenan Yildiz with 27, while also leading Roma’s league charts with four goals and three assists.

Genoa’s improvement in attack since matchday 11, the point of De Rossi’s debut in their dugout, is notable because no Serie A side have scored more goals than the Rossoblu in that period, with their total of 10 matching Fiorentina, Inter and Sassuolo, despite attempting only 61 shots, the fifth-lowest tally in the division during the same stretch.

Vitinha has contributed two of those Genoa goals and exceeded his 1.3 expected goals figure, while taking nine shots, which is the joint-highest total for the team in that timeframe, making Vitinha a central attacking reference for Genoa under De Rossi.

Roma vs Genoa Serie A coaching respect and tactical influence

De Rossi also highlighted admiration for Gian Piero Gasperini’s work at Stadio Olimpico, stating: "Gasperini will be an example for any team I go and coach," De Rossi added. "He was the first to bring back a type of football that had started to be forgotten about. He made it more offensive and more modern. Hes a great point of reference. We've spoken in the past, not this week, though. There is respect on my part; we have friends in common. We spoke when he first went to Roma. I have respect for him, professionally and as a person."

With analytical models favouring the hosts, the Opta prediction lists Roma as clear favourites for the match outcome, while still giving Genoa an outside chance and leaving some probability for a draw.

The data backdrop leads to a forecast of "MATCH PREDICTION: ROMA WIN", yet Genoa’s recent scoring record under De Rossi, strong personal motivation and positive history in year-ending fixtures suggest the contest could still be competitive despite Roma’s stronger overall numbers at Stadio Olimpico.