Just one point above their visitors before Sunday's clash at Stadio Olimpico, in-form Roma welcome Fiorentina to the Italian capital this weekend.
While the Giallorossi have won three of their last four Serie A matches, their Tuscan counterparts bounced back from a below-par November to start the new month with back-to-back victories.
Jose Mourinho's men started the 2023-24 campaign sluggishly but have now gained 19 points from their last eight matches - only league-leading Inter Milan and Juventus (both 20) have fared better over the same period.
Much of their points haul is owed to a series of late interventions, and throughout 2023 Roma have scored no fewer than 24 league goals from the 76th minute onwards in Serie A, including seven of their last eight.
In addition to such never-say-die spirit, the Giallorossi have recently dominated all-comers on Roman soil, winning each of their last five matches as hosts; they most recently put together a longer streak between 2016 and 2017, when current Italy boss Luciano Spalletti was still in charge at the Olimpico.
By contrast, a club that reached UEFA finals in both of the past two years have stuttered somewhat in Europe, and last month's 1-1 draw with Servette effectively consigned them to the Europa League's knockout-round playoffs for a second straight season.
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