If ever there was a fixture that feels like a derby even if it is not mentioned in the same breath as the Derby della Capitale, Derby del Sole, or the Derby della Madonnina, Roma’s matches against Juventus
fit the bill. Tomorrow’s trip to the Allianz Stadium sees the Giallorossi take on Italy’s once and future bogeyman in a match whose weight extends well beyond three points. Decades of shared battles at the summit of Serie A have forged a competitive edge and narrative depth to this matchup that goes far beyond the league table (and has made this match feel just as important as the named derbies I mentioned before). While Roma may be ahead of Juventus in the table for now, and while Juventus themselves seem to be stalling out after what felt like an endless array of Scudetti, there’s no question that this match has an emotional tinge to it.
The stakes are certainly high for the match. For Roma, a result in Turin could be the spark that propels them deeper into the top four race (or even more actively back into the Scudetto race), where margins are thin and every point feels like survival. Juventus, meanwhile, have long used matches against Roma as benchmarks of their own season. To Juventini, a win against Roma would be a helpful measuring stick for progress and resilience in the face of intense domestic competition. Make no mistake: even if Juventus isn’t dominant like it was in the 2010s, this is the match of the weekend in Serie A, if not Europe.
What to Watch For
Can Ferguson Catch Fire in Serie A?
If Evan Ferguson’s Celtic brace felt like a lightning bolt in the dark, that’s because it was one. We’re a bit removed from it now thanks to last week’s Como match, but it bears repeating: that brace by Ferguson against a reputable European side made even the most cynical Roma fan get a touch of hope for the Irishman’s ability to contribute to Roma for the long term. After a slow start to life in Serie A, Ferguson’s ability to light up Celtic Park with real composure and a striker’s instincts that have been, frankly, too rare in a Giallorossi shirt this season. That first-half double was the kind of moment supporters have been craving from their on-loan Irishman, and not a moment too soon given reports that suggested the Giallorossi may be looking to move on from him if he didn’t start delivering.
Yet all the potential that Ferguson has has not translated to success in Serie A just yet. Like all other attackers for Roma save Matías Soulé, goals have been hard to come by for Ferguson, and the chances have been scarce despite an air-tight defense and some truly talented playmakers in the side. Blame it on whatever you like, but Ferguson has yet to consistently deliver the kind of end product expected of a lead forward. That Celtic brace is an enticing hint at what could be for Ferguson—but if he can’t translate those goals into more goals soon, Romanisti will be forced to view them as outliers instead of a turning point.
With Ferguson tipped to start tomorrow, all eyes will be on him to make sure his presence translates to goals in Serie A too. Scoring against Juventus would be a true moment of arrival for the 21-year-old, and at a moment where even if Frederic Massara nabs Joshua Zirkzee from Manchester United this January, Roma will still need more offense than it’s shown to date. For a striker still finding his rhythm in Italy under a manager who demands relentless intensity, producing on one of the biggest stages would be the clearest evidence yet that Ferguson is ready to catch fire and sustain it at the top level.
Can Devyne Rensch Solidify A Starting XI Spot?
One of the more intriguing tactical threads woven into this Juventus showdown is how Roma handle spots in and around their back line, particularly with some key defenders struggling with fitness. Mario Hermoso, who has proven himself to be a central figure in Gian Piero Gasperini’s world-class defense this season, is dealing with muscle fatigue on the eve of this match, leaving his availability in doubt and forcing Gasperini to think hard about how he wants to balance continuity with necessity.
That uncertainty over Hermoso’s condition actually opens the door ever so slightly for Devyne Rensch to make a deeper impression on the manager. Though Rensch has yet to consistently lock down a regular starting role this season, Gasperini’s comment that testing defensive options “also includes Rensch” underscores that the Dutchman remains in the conversation when opportunity comes knocking. In a backline that thrives on cohesion and understanding, Rensch’s defensive discipline and willingness to engage on both sides of the ball give him a baseline competence that could serve Roma well against Juventus’ dynamic wingers, Kenan Yıldız and Chico Conceição.
Rensch’s opportunities have been sporadic this season for good reason—Roma’s starting defense has just been that good, and defenders usually rotate far less than attacking players so they can build more cohesion and understanding with their goalkeeper. Given that Rensch hasn’t yet nailed down the commanding presence of an unchallengeable starter like Gianluca Mancini or Evan N’Dicka, it’s not surprising that Roma’s defensive success has left him somewhat out in the cold. Still, with Hermoso’s status still up in the air, a composed, assured performance in Turin by Rensch would show that he’s the next man up in more ways than one. Particularly with the African Cup of Nations coming up fast, that could mean we’ll see a lot more of Rensch in the winter; in a match where the pressure will be on Roma to get the three points and avoid defensive blunders, Rensch could develop a convincing starting narrative for AFCON and beyond starting with a solid performance against Juventus.
