Empoli, Italy (SportsNetwork.com) - Roma kicks off a full week of action against Empoli on Saturday as the team attempts to continue its good start to life in Serie A.
After finishing second in the league last season, Roma began its new campaign with a 2-0 win over Fiorentina, while Empoli returned to the top flight on the wrong end of a 2-0 score at Udinese.
Roma will go into this contest as firm favorites, but the club might also have an eye on its Champions League match with CSKA Moscow on Wednesday after a three-year absence from the competition.
The capital club was drawn into a difficult group with Bayern Munich and Manchester City along with CSKA, so three points against the Russian outfit will be of great importance.
With that in mind Roma manager Rudi Garcia is expected to make a number of changes on Saturday to ensure that his men are in top condition for Wednesday's crucial fixture.
Empoli knows that even with a changed Roma side, three points will be tough to attain on Saturday, and manager Maurizio Sarri feels like his team is really up against it.
"For us this game is an almost impossible mission," Sarri said of the test Roma will provide. "But we must try. I know that Roma will fight until the end for the Scudetto, while I'm curious to see them in action in the Champions League.
"I don't think they are too far off the level of the top European teams."
Juventus was unconvincing in a 1-0 season-opening win at Chievo that was decided on an own goal, and the Old Lady will attempt to look more impressive at home against Udinese on Saturday while also preparing for Champions League action on Tuesday against Malmo.
Napoli lost in Champions League qualification but the club managed a 2-1 win over Genoa to start the Serie A campaign. Napoli will return home to tangle with Chievo, while AC Milan attempts to build on a strong outing against Lazio with a second straight win at Parma.
Sampdoria hosts Torino, Atalanta travels to Cagliari, Genoa invades Fiorentina, Inter Milan meets Sassuolo, Lazio hosts Cesena and Palermo rounds out the weekend with a trip to Hellas Verona.
