Coming off a strong start to the season last week, Roma is looking to keep the momentum going this Saturday evening when they head to Arena Garibaldi to face Pisa.
This match marks a new era for both clubs. For Roma, it's the beginning of the Gasperini era, and they got off to a perfect start by beating Bologna in their season opener. Pisa, meanwhile, is back in Serie A after a 34-year absence and managed a promising draw against Atalanta in their first match.
Roma's Winning Start
Roma's win over Bologna was a great way to kick off the season under their new coach. A second-half goal from Wesley, helped by some shaky defending from Bologna, was enough to secure the victory. This win continues a great run for the club that started under former manager Claudio Ranieri, who led them on a 19-game unbeaten streak last season. After five wins in seven preseason games, Roma is looking to win their first two league matches for only the third time in a decade.
Pisa's Long-Awaited Return
For Pisa fans, this home game is especially meaningful. It's their first top-flight home match since 1991, when they ironically lost 1-0 to Roma. While their promotion-winning coach, Pippo Inzaghi, left the club, new boss Alberto Gilardino oversaw a successful comeback game last week. They even shocked Atalanta by scoring first before the match ended in a 1-1 draw.
Despite the positive start, Pisa faces a tough challenge against Roma. Historically, they've lost 10 of their 14 Serie A meetings, with only two wins.
Team Updates
Roma has some new faces to watch, including striker Evan Ferguson, who has been starting over last season's top scorer Artem Dovbyk. While Zeki Celik is back from a ban, new signing Leon Bailey is out for about a month with an injury, joining Lorenzo Pellegrini on the sidelines.
As for Pisa, they've added ex-Real Madrid and Napoli defender Raul Albiol and midfielder Calvin Stengs to their squad. They'll be without three injured players—Tomas Esteves, Isak Vural, and Mateus Lusuardi—but forwards Henrik Meister and Alexander Lind are expected to be fit to play. They'll be competing for a spot up front with last season's top scorer Matteo Tramoni and new striker M'Bala Nzola.
