Gameday: Barcelona vs Valencia

Friday, November 25, 2011

ASRoma vs Udnese Preview

Source: Espn - Roma coach Luciano Spalletti looks set to rest captain Francesco Totti for tomorrow's Serie A match against Udinese to ensure his fitness for the Champions League last-16 second leg against Arsenal.
Totti has a knee problem and is not likely to feature tomorrow as a precaution, with Wednesday's game very much in mind.
"Totti still feels pain on his knee,'' said Roma's fitness trainer Vito Scala. "Our aim is to recover Totti for Wednesday's game against Arsenal.''
The Eternal City outfit lost 1-0 to the Premier League side in the first-leg meeting in London and will be looking to overturn that result and reach the quarter-finals of Europe's elite club competition for a second consecutive year.
But first, Roma must turn their attention back to domestic matters as they look to cut the gap to third-placed AC Milan.
With 12 games remaining, Spalletti's side occupy sixth spot, four points behind the Rossoneri - who hold the last automatic Champions League berth.
If results go their way, Roma could go into next week's European showdown already in fourth spot.
Fourth-placed Fiorentina are two points clear of Roma while Genoa, in fifth, are one point ahead of the Giallorossi.

With Fiorentina entertaining Palermo and Genoa facing a huge challenge when they host league leaders Inter Milan this weekend, Roma fans will be hoping their team can climb up in the standings.
However, Spalletti faces selection problems with just one striker - Vincenzo Montella - definitely fit for the clash against Udinese.
Jeremy Menez and Julio Baptista are both out of action with the flu and team's top scorer Mirko Vucinic is struggling with a back injury.
Spalletti hopes to recover Vucinic, who has notched eight goals so far this season.
The Giallorossi will be looking to bounce back after the disappointment of letting slip a two-goal lead to draw 3-3 at Inter in their last Serie A clash last weekend.
"It's difficult to be happy with this result especially when my team played with such intensity,'' admitted Spalletti.



The Giallorossi will fancy their chances for they have not lost at the Stadio Olimpico since October 19 while Udinese have failed to win on the road in the last four months.
However, the Friuli outfit go into the encounter at the Stadio Olimpico in buoyant mood with last weekend's 2-0 triumph over Lecce extending their advantage over the drop zone to 11 points.
Udinese defender Felipe believes his team will have plenty of motivation to take home three points.
"You are always more fired up when you play against top teams,'' he said. "We have lost many points on the road this campaign and now we have to recover them, starting on Saturday.
"Three points against Roma would be crucial for our aim to avoid the drop, which is right now our aim.''
Udinese coach Pasquale Marino will be without the services of striker Fabio Quagliarella and defender Aleksandar Lukovic. The former is out with a fever and the latter struggling with a problematic knee.
Moreover, defender Maurizio Domizzi must serve a one-match ban.
Watch Game Here

No comments:

Post a Comment