ALKMAAR, NETHERLANDS – JANUARY 23: Leandro Paredes #16 of AS Roma dribbles the ball in the second half of the UEFA Europa League 2024/25 League Phase MD7 match between AZ Alkmaar and AS Roma at AZ Stadion on January 23, 2025 in Alkmaar, Netherlands. (Photo by Alex Bierens de Haan/Getty Images)
Former Juventus and Roma striker Daniel Fonseca predicts the Giallorossi will beat the Bianconeri tonight with a goal from Leandro Paredes.
Juventus and Roma meet at the Stadio Olimpico on Sunday night in a key match for the Serie A top four.
Claudio Ranieri’s Roma have been unbeaten in Serie A since December 15, while Juventus have recently changed their coach, seeing Igor Tudor win on his debut against Genoa last week.
Fonseca, a former striker for Roma and Juve, feels the Giallorossi will grab all three points tonight.
“Roma will win because Claudio [Ranieri] deserves to finish in style after an incredible comeback—nobody could have imagined it,” the ex-striker told Gazzetta.
“I’ll bet on a goal from a former [Juventus] player: Paredes. I have a soft spot for Yildiz; he’s Turkish but plays like a South American. He has flashes that remind me of Francescoli. He was pure class, no wonder he was Zidane’s idol. I’ve never seen Zizou so excited as when I took him to dinner with Francescoli in Turin.”
Fonseca, a former Uruguay international, played under Ranieri at Cagliari and shared the dressing room with Igor Tudor at Juventus.
“I had a great relationship with Igor. I used to spend time with him and Kovacevic when I was in Turin,” Fonseca continued.
“Honestly, I didn’t think he’d become such a top-level coach. His teams play well and are aggressive, and he earned his chance on the pitch.”
Fonseca also played with Antonio Conte in Turin, and the ex-midfielder is seen as a possible replacement for Tudor in 2025-26. Who should Juventus pick?
“They are both ex-teammates, don’t make me argue with them!” Fonseca said, smiling.
“Tudor earned his shot, but Antonio is world-class, and I am not the first one to say that.”
Fonseca scored 78 goals in 217 Serie A matches, winning the Scudetto with Juventus in 1997-98. He also played for Como, Napoli and Cagliari in Italy’s top-flight.
