Having taken AS Roma to fourth place the previous season amidst a flurry of goals, Czech coach Zdenek Zeman hoped to take his side even higher in the Serie A table as the 1998-99 season kicked off.

Once again there was great attacking football and lots of goals - forwards Marco Delvecchio, Francesco Totti, and Paulo Sergio scored 42 between them - but too many conceded at the other end of the pitch proved costly and meant Roma finished the season in fifth place, a point away from Champions League qualification.