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Serie A: Gervinho and Seydou Doumbia return to Roma after winning Africa Cup of Nations with Ivory Coast

Ivory Coast's forward Gervinho kisses the trophy at the end of the 2015 African Cup of Nations final football match between Ivory Coast and Ghana in Bata
Image: Gervinho (right): Set for Roma return after winning continental title.

Roma welcome back Ivory Coast strikers Gervinho and Seydou Doumbia as they look to start clawing back some of the lost ground on Serie A leaders Juventus.

Gervinho has been absent for all of January, along with new signing Doumbia, as the pair helped their their country win the Africa Cup of Nations.                 

The duo are expected back in Rome at the end of this week, where Doumbia will finally meet his new teammates following his transfer from CSKA Moscow in January.                 

Roma have struggled without Gervinho and last week's 2-1 victory at Cagliari halted a run of four consecutive draws, a run which saw them slip seven points behind Juventus.                 

Parma travel to the Stadio Olimpico on Sunday afternoon, with Juventus visiting Cesena a few hours later.

"It was fundamental for us to get the three points at Cagliari because things weren't going well," Roma defender Vasilis Torosidis said. "There was and there is a lot of pressure at Roma, I don't like it even if I'm used to it by now."

The return of Gervinho and Doumbia will be a welcome relief for coach Rudi Garcia, who is still facing a host of personnel problems.

Kevin Strootman is again out for the rest of the season, while forwards Juan Iturbe and Victor Ibarbo are also facing lengthy spells on the sidelines.

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Ivory Coast defeat Ghana 9-8 on penalties to win Africa Cup of Nations.

Jose Holebas is suspended and Francesco Totti missed training midweek with flu but Daniele De Rossi could return from injury.

Parma slipped to a fifth straight defeat at home to Chievo in midweek and remained bottom. The club was also sold last week for the second time this season.

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