AS Roma head to Hellas Verona on Sunday knowing a win would guarantee Champions League qualification. They are fourth in Serie A on 70 points, sit in joint third with Milan, and are two points ahead of Juventus and Como. The Stadio Bentegodi kick-off is at 19:45 UK time, 20:45 CEST.

Why a draw is not clean enough

The obvious read is that Roma control their own fate, but Serie A's head-to-head rules complicate it. The league uses head-to-head records before overall goal difference, so a draw in Verona could still leave Roma exposed if results elsewhere go badly. That makes this a proper final-day stress test, not just a trip to a relegated side.

Roma's recent form is strong enough to back the expectation. Their last five league results are W-W-W-W-D, and they have scored 57 league goals while conceding 31. [Gian Piero Gasperini] said his side have posted four straight wins while scoring 11 goals, which is the clearest reason they are still in position to finish the job themselves.

Manu Koné is back in training and should start the final game of the season against Verona, according to a Sky Sport Italia report. That matters because Roma do not need to be reckless, they just need a performance that matches the moment.

Why Verona still have a spoiler path

Verona's league position tells its own story. They are 19th with 21 points and already relegated, but that does not make them harmless. They have failed to find the net in 19 league matches this season, yet they have beaten Roma in four of the last five meetings at Stadio Bentegodi.

[Paolo Sammarco] put the mood in simple terms: "With nothing left to lose, they will want to sign off from Serie A by damaging Roma's Champions League hopes." That is the part Roma have to manage. A side with little left to play for can still make the afternoon awkward, especially at a ground where Verona have caused them problems before.

The other reason Roma will be watching the clock is Gianluca Mancini. He struck twice with headers in the Derby della Capitale against Lazio, and he now has four league goals this season from defence. That kind of set-piece threat gives Roma a useful edge if the game turns tight.

Roma should still be favoured. The form, the table and the scoring numbers all point that way. But if they leave Verona needing help from elsewhere, the final-day tension will have been self-inflicted, and that is exactly what their league position says they can avoid by winning.

FAQ

Can Roma qualify for the Champions League by beating Hellas Verona?

Yes. Roma are fourth with 70 points and need victory at Hellas Verona to guarantee Champions League qualification. Serie A uses head-to-head records before overall goal difference, so a draw could still leave them exposed if results elsewhere go badly.

Why is Roma's final-day trip to Verona so tense?

Roma sit in joint third place with Milan and are two points ahead of Juventus and Como, but the table is not the only issue. Serie A's head-to-head rules mean a draw at the Stadio Bentegodi could still be risky depending on other results.

Why are Hellas Verona being viewed as potential spoilers?

Verona are already relegated, but they have beaten Roma in four of the last five meetings at Stadio Bentegodi and have failed to score in 19 league matches this season. Paolo Sammarco said they will want to damage Roma's Champions League hopes.

Written by Daniel Hartley with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 3 outlets. How we work →