Roma head into Sunday's Serie A game at Torino a far different side from the one that opened the campaign.Judging from their current form and eighth-place position in Serie A, it is hard to believe that coach Luciano Spalletti was in danger of being fired, and that Roma seemed to have a slim chance of being alive in the Champions League in January.
The Giallorossi have been proving since their Rome derby win over Lazio on November 16 that even good teams can have extremely bad starts. Spalletti's side have gone from strength to strength ever since, with a 2-0 midweek victory over Sampdoria their latest triumph.
That win closed the gap on fourth-placed Napoli to just six points.
Including the victory over Lazio, Roma have taken 19 out of a possible 24 points.
With the two-goal hero from last weekend's 2-2 draw against AC Milan, Montenegrin striker Mirko Vucinic, and France defender Philippe Mexes missing the Samp game through suspension but now available again, the Romans will be supremely confident.
Spalletti has been all smiles this week after Roma came from a goal down to draw with Milan and followed that up with the home success over Samp thanks to two strikes from Julio Baptista.
"This is a very important win for us," he said.
"The fundamental thing is that we played a good game. However, we still have a lot of work to do in order to achieve our aim which is to finish in the top four."
Spalletti has also been reassured over the future of Mexes, who has refuted speculation in Italy that he is on his way to AC Milan.
"I cannot deny that Milan is a great team," Mexes said. "But I am very happy here, I have a contract with Roma and I would like to stay here as long as possible."
Rivals Torino will be looking to bounce back from their 3-0 defeat at Genoa last weekend.
The outcome marked Toro's fourth loss in five games and saw the Granata drop to 18th in the standings.
A win on Sunday could see Walter Novellino's men climb out of the relegation zone, with the Turin outfit just one point behind Bologna who hold the last safety position.
Toro, who have one of the worst defensive records in the competition with 32 goals given away, made a move in the transfer market by bringing back Argentinian defender Paolo Dellafiore.
Dellafiore returns to Toro after a year at Palermo and is expected to start in place of Marco Pisano, who serves a one-match ban.
"I am grateful to Torino for having wanted me back," said Dellafiore. "I hope I can help the team defend their Serie A status."
Toro midfielder Blerim Dzemaili will join Pisano in the stands this weekend as he is also suspended.
The visitors will be without midfielder Simone Perrotta, who serves a one-match ban, and injured captain Francesco Totti.
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