Totti itching to be fit for Rome derby

godtabh

Preview

MILAN, Oct 29 (Reuters) - AS Roma striker Francesco Totti is again doubtful for the derby with Lazio on Wednesday after missing Sunday's 1-0 win at AC Milan with an ankle injury.

Roma fared well without their talismanic skipper though, with his replacement Mirko Vucinic scoring the second-half header which left Milan without a league home win this season.

'I hope Totti will be there. The derby for us is always a final. For years we have gone in as favourites and then we always fail to win,' said Daniele De Rossi, who carelessly missed a penalty on Sunday when trying to chip Dida.

Second-placed Roma should have a better chance of beating Lazio this year, given Delio Rossi's injury problems and lack of investment during the close season.

Marco Ballotta, Lazio's 43-year-old goalkeeper, kept them in the game at home to Udinese on Sunday before Asamoah Gyan gave the visitors a 1-0 win.

Lazio are languishing mid-table on 10 points, 11 behind leaders Inter Milan after nine games.

European champions Milan are level with Lazio after the worst spell at the club for 20 years.

Massimo Ambrosini's sending off against Roma capped another under-par display for a side who only seem to be able to rouse themselves for the Champions League.

Coach Carlo Ancelotti has said he will not change his tactics while vice president Adriano Galliani believes the season will pick up when Ronaldo recovers from injury and new Brazilian recruit Pato joins in January.

Wednesday's visit to stuttering Sampdoria is the ideal opportunity for Milan to get back on track on a ground where they won 3-0 against Genoa on the opening day.

Samp striker Antonio Cassano substituted himself before halftime in Sunday's 2-0 defeat at Catania, angering team mates who did not believe he was injured.

Fourth-placed Juventus, stung by Saturday's 3-1 defeat at Napoli and the two controversial penalties awarded against them, host Empoli without suspended midfielder Pavel Nedved and with one eye on Sunday's clash with Inter.

Champions Inter, three points ahead of Roma, entertain Genoa with midfielder Dejan Stankovic set to be out with an ankle problem and goalkeeper Julio Cesar doubtful with a back injury.

Fiorentina, who missed the chance to go second after a 0-0 draw at Genoa on Sunday, welcome resurgent Napoli.

Wednesday, October 31, 2007
TIME HOME AWAY VENUE
19:30 UK Atalanta v Cagliari Stadio Azzurri D`Italia
19:30 UK Fiorentina v Napoli Artemio Franchi
19:30 UK Inter Milan v Genoa Stadio Giuseppe Meazza
19:30 UK Juventus v Empoli Stadio Olimpico Grande Torino
19:30 UK Palermo v Parma Renzo Barbera
19:30 UK Reggina v Livorno Stadio Oreste Granillo
19:30 UK Roma v Lazio Stadio Olimpico
19:30 UK Sampdoria v AC Milan Comunale Luigi Ferraris
19:30 UK Siena v Catania Calcio Artemio Franchi Montepaschi Arena
19:30 UK Udinese v Torino Stadio Friul

A few mid week games this week.

Top game is Roma Lazio. Wouldnt mind seeing that on TV (or at all) but probably wont get a chance. Derby's can go any way so not gona call this but Roma dropping a few points would be handy!

Hopefully Inter will bounce back.

The other big teams should get the points.

dor83

Yeah the Roma V Lazio game should be a good one, as usual. Lazio could well take points off Roma, I think they will, just a feeling I have a bout it. Inter should get a win as should Juve but Milan have a hard game against Samp and I'd say a draw. I'll probably watch the Inter game and keep an eye on the Rome Derby.

godtabh

dor83 wrote: »

Yeah the Roma V Lazio game should be a good one, as usual. Lazio could well take points off Roma, I think they will, just a feeling I have a bout it. Inter should get a win as should Juve but Milan have a hard game against Samp and I'd say a draw. I'll probably watch the Inter game and keep an eye on the Rome Derby.

Derby games can go anyway in Rome. Alot of passion there. Tried to go once but couldnt get tickets sorted. Will some day

dor83

Dont think I'd fit in too well at the Rome Derby, I cant really go to a game as a neutral and couldnt bring myself to support Roma or Lazio, even for 1 game. I'll be going to the Milan Derby in December, my first Derby, so that should be good. Have you been to the Milan Derby before kearnsr?

godtabh

dor83 wrote: »

Dont think I'd fit in too well at the Rome Derby, I cant really go to a game as a neutral and couldnt bring myself to support Roma or Lazio, even for 1 game. I'll be going to the Milan Derby in December, my first Derby, so that should be good. Have you been to the Milan Derby before kearnsr?

I went a couple of years ago. Milan were playing at home and I went with a milan supporter. Was brave enough to wear my Inter gear under a jacket but that was about it. Match was crap but the fans were brillant. The Ultras gave each other loads.

dor83

Yeah, the Ultras have been great at any game I've been to(my ticket is in the Curva Nord). I'm kind of expecting the Derby to be over rated coz I think I have been expecting too much.
Seems like it will be Crespo and Cruz up front tonight with Ibra and Adri on the bench. What is going on with Suazo? Mancini seems reluctant to play him, but when I've seen him play he has done well(particularly against Utd in pre-season).

dor83

Half time scores:
Atalanta 0 - 1 Cagliari
Fiorentina 0 - 0 Napoli
Internazionale 1 - 0 Genoa
Juventus 0 - 0 Empoli
Palermo 0 - 1 Parma
Reggina 1 - 1 Livorno
Roma 2 - 1 Lazio
Sampdoria 0 - 0 Milan
Siena 0 - 0 Catania
Udinese 1 - 0 Torino
Cordoba for Inter in what has been an easy game so far and Inter should really be up by more from what I've seen. The Roma V lazio game seems like the better game, a more open game, but I've only seen about 10 mins of it.

dor83

Results:
Atalanta 2 - 2 Cagliari
Fiorentina 1 - 0 Napoli
Internazionale 4 - 1 Genoa
Juventus 3 - 0 Empoli
Palermo 1 - 1 Parma
Reggina 1 - 3 Livorno
Roma 3 - 2 Lazio
Sampdoria 0 - 5 Milan
Siena 1 - 0 Catania
Udinese 2 - 1 Torino
Inter should have scored more, especialy Crespo who missed an open goal. I was happy to see Suazo get a goal and he did very well to win the pen.
The Roma V Lazio game was good and Roma probably had the better chances and deserved to win. Milan getting 5 in the 2nd half was a supprise and Trez got a hat-trick for Juve. Vieri scored for Fiorentina with means its as you were at the top.

ThE_IVIAcIVIAIV

well juventus go into 3rd on goal difference actually ^^


TOPSCORERS

Trezeguet 10*
Z. Ibrahimovic 7
F. Totti 7
Kaka 7
A. Mutu 6
M. Borriello 5
P. Foggia 4
V. Iaquinta 4*

godtabh

ThE_IVIAcIVIAIV wrote: »

well juventus go into 3rd on goal difference actually ^^


TOPSCORERS

Trezeguet 10*
Z. Ibrahimovic 7
F. Totti 7
Kaka 7
A. Mutu 6
M. Borriello 5
P. Foggia 4
V. Iaquinta 4*

Whats with the starts?

Can remember were I was sitting. It was on the dug out side top tier beside the Inter ultras. Will have to find my ticket to make double sure. Meet an Irish Inter Ultra int he airport next day. Nice lad

ThE_IVIAcIVIAIV

kearnsr wrote: »

Whats with the starts?

Can remember were I was sitting. It was on the dug out side top tier beside the Inter ultras. Will have to find my ticket to make double sure. Meet an Irish Inter Ultra int he airport next day. Nice lad

stars* for juventus players trezegol is surely a star, the way hes hittin them in now he'll end up with 30 at the end of season. seen him knock in 6 goals which were called offside after he knocked them in too... his finishing is on fire. world class at the moment and he comes back to help the midfield too.... seen him in the centre circle area today lofting a ball up to Del Piero. camo and marcho played a few mins tonight, both were injured and are recovering for inter game at the weekend. they were lookin very strong on the ball, especially camo

godtabh

ThE_IVIAcIVIAIV wrote: »

stars* for juventus players trezegol is surely a star, the way hes hittin them in now he'll end up with 30 at the end of season. seen him knock in 6 goals which were called offside after he knocked them in too... his finishing is on fire. world class at the moment and he comes back to help the midfield too.... seen him in the centre circle area today lofting a ball up to Del Piero. camo and marcho played a few mins tonight, both were injured and are recovering for inter game at the weekend. they were lookin very strong on the ball, especially camo

Trezeguet is a great player but he seems to get pissed off with Juve every now and again for what ever reason. How old is he now? 31/32? Can he keep it up for the season?

Bubs101

kearnsr wrote: »

Derby games can go anyway in Rome. Alot of passion there. Tried to go once but couldnt get tickets sorted. Will some day

Went to one about 6 years ago. Roma won 5-1 and there were 4 riots not to mention the Lazio fans shaking the Roma team bus all over the place on the way up. Doubt it'd be as good with the stricter rules on fans